Fall Release DuMOL Estate Vineyard Chardonnay
2023

Winemaker’s Notes

As is customary, our DuMOL Estate Vineyard Chardonnay is the most dynamic, complex and cerebral white wine of the vintage— which is not to say that it lacks deliciousness, but simply that its fruit has a naturally savory, botanical focus. This small, shaded vineyard parcel, planted to high vine density, is surrounded by the aromatic coastal forest, and this has a huge impact on the wine’s aromas and flavors—that's terroir in action. What we get are sweet herbal notes of tarragon and sage, white pepper and dried mint, bay laurel and chalky freshness. It’s a wine of great nuance and detail which has incredible intensity of lemon and lime fruits, oily textural richness, and brisk mineral acidity. A true wine of its coastal Sonoma origins.

High-toned aromas and flavors of lime, chamomile, jasmine, and kiwi are deeply intertwined. The wine is zesty, electric, and detailed. Full-bodied, with oily richness and snappy acidity, the wine’s balance is near perfect. This complex matrix of flavor and structure lingers long on the wine’s finish, which blends lemongrass and honeyed richness. Drink between 2025 and 2035. A gentle decant might be beneficial to open up the wine’s full texture.

Andy Smith