2012 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

SOLD OUT!

The La Cruz vineyard, from which this wine comes, sits on the east side of the Petaluma river, a hundred feet or so above the valley floor on a west facing slope. It’s one of the older vineyards in this part of the Sonoma Coast and so the vines are starting to take on that slightly gnarled, rugged look that old vines eventually get. It’s good to work with mature vines.

2012 was a fairly easy growing season. The weather was mild, and there was a decent sized crop, a welcome change from 2011 where the season was difficult and the crop very small. I’m glad to say that I have twice as much Chardonnay this year compared to last year! Admittedly, two times a very small number is still a fairly small number so we’re still talking a very small amount of wine (10 barrels instead of 5).

Chardonnay in 2012 is quite different than in 2011. In 2011, you could make the case that the wines truly were Burgundian—racy acidity, lots of energy, lean but concentrated. In 2012, my Chardonnay is what you might called “restrained Californian,” a bit more sweet fruit, not quite as lean as 2011, prettier. A floral note to the flavors, perhaps, but not tropical. A reflection of the sunnier season.
I made 240 cases in 2012.

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