2022 Kimari Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Preserving exceptional old-vine Chardonnay.

Formerly known as Howard Family Vineyard, this sweet little home vineyard was purchased in 2021 by Ari & Kim Novick. They renamed the vineyard Kimari—a blend of their first names. The Novicks and their star viticulturalist Prudy Foxx are making all the right moves here: amending depleted soil, trimming back the encroaching forest, converting everything to biodynamic farming. They occasionally let their horse run through the vine rows. And they planted a vine nursery to preserve the integrity of their 1980s dry-farmed, old Wente Chardonnay (one of the oldest plantings in Santa Cruz). This is a damp site 4-miles the sea and it will seemingly always be a race against botrytis, but drinking the last few vintages determines us. This wine is chiseled from stone. Pure mineral energy. At 3.2 pH and 7.2 g/l TA it delivers a focused beam of lemon balm, yellow plum, oyster liqueur, and white sage. Our mouths water for ocean delicacies or Sara's favorite summertime treat—burrata & peaches.

If you're interested in an allocation or joining our wine club to have access to these wines, please contact us at info@liocowine.com.