2024 Sonoma County Chardonnay

AROMA
green apple, lime zest, white flower
FLAVOR
mineral, quince, candied lemon peel
FOOD PAIRINGS
shrimp & grits, fried cod, chicken w/ mustard sauce
VINIFICATION
The fruit was hand-harvested in late August / early September and foot tread
before being whole cluster pressed. The juice was fermented in 100% stainless
steel and aged on the lees for 14-months. A gentle cross-flow filtration was
done prior to bottling.
SITE
This wine is composed of several vineyards in the cooler western regions of
Sonoma County. While each site is distinct, they share a common commitment
to sustainable horticulture and strident farming. Our intention for this wine is to
express the unique character of this region. Warm days and cool nights,
tempered by consistent oceanic fog, yield nuanced Chardonnays balanced by
brisk acidity.
NOTES
Vintage 2024 unfolded with remarkable precision. Abundant winter and spring
rainfall replenished soils and established healthy water reserves ahead of the
growing season. Flowering arrived under dry, warm conditions, encouraging
excellent fruit set and uniform cluster development. Throughout summer,
consistently warm days with cool nights allowed grapes to ripen steadily while
preserving natural acidity. Notably, the absence of summer rain reduced disease
pressure and gave us the freedom to fine-tune ripeness decisions and pick at
optimal maturity. These balanced, on-time conditions translated directly into the
character of the wines, particularly Chardonnay. The wines show fresh, lifted
aromatics, vibrant yet integrated acidity, and impressive flavor intensity without
heaviness. This SoCo installment features two exciting new vineyard sites that
compliment the stalwart sources from John Balletto's ranches in the Sebastopol
Hills. Namely some organically farmed, old vine Wente from Frank Johnson
(17% of blend) and some top tier stuff from a cooler pocket of the Alexander
Valley (Gamino Vineyard). Like the 2023, this wine was fermented and aged in
100% stainless steel — homage to the mouthwatering wine that inspired it:
Louis Michel Chablis.