2017 Chardonnay
Chuy’s Vineyard - Moon Mountain District - Sonoma County
Nectar Dance
High on the slopes of Moon Mountain is a vineyard that has found its place in nature. Along the edge of a forest, grasses sway in the afternoon breeze, deer meander through the trees, and bees dance across the blossoms – all in a wondrous waltz of the wild.
Winegrowing Approach
Chuy’s Vineyard sits high on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma County. The soil is burnt red, and these gnarly vines are 60+ years old Wente “Shot Clone”. They are dry farmed and tended to by a man named Jesus "Chuy" Ordaz. He came to California in the 60's and started working in the Sonoma Valley as a teenager. Chuy has now managed the vineyard for over forty years. The wines that emerge from this vineyard can cover the full spectrum - from restrained to opulent. We hand-picked this vineyard twice, several days apart, to get more depth and to coax out the different flavors found at earlier and later ripeness. We direct pressed the wine and settled the lees overnight. We then barrel fermented the juice in 20% new French oak. Once fermentation is completed, the barrels were topped up and left to age with their lees for 15 months before bottling.
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes
Bright with fresh aromas of spring blossoms, lemon zest, and guava. The wine both zings with acidity and flows slowly across tongue. Its richness conjures thoughts of lemon curd and Dole’s pineapple ice cream. The touch of new oak gives the wine some nice vanillin and baking spices. Overall the wine’s balance teeters between reserved and opulent; the finish goes and goes.
Best from now - 2026
Technical Information
Elevation: Mountain from 1200 feet to 1600 feet in elevation
Soil: Alluvial Mayacamas loam
Farming: Sustainable, Organic Practices; Dry-farmed
Aging: 100% French Oak, 20% new for 15 months
Production: 90 dozen bottled January 9th, 2019; lightly filtered
Alcohol: 14.4%