Produced from our estate, Blue Oaks Chardonnay Vineyard in the Potter Valley AVA of Mendocino, the season and location is ideal for the Chardonnay. In 2022, the season was fairly uneventful to start. Mild temperatures gently and steadily increased until harvest was upon us in August. While the yields were lower, we were fortunate to harvest perfectly golden, ripe, rich, Chardonnay of exceptional quality. Winemaker, Toby Forman, like his father and mentor, Ric Forman, strives to make each vintage cohesive in style but continually pushes to improve the quality of the wine through hands-on farming.
Despite lower yield and smaller clusters the fruit had unparalleled quality and developed beautifully with our small lot barrel fermentations. To achieve balance, preserve minerality and brightness, the Chardonnay underwent 50% malolactic fermentation, before bottling. Upon opening, bright notes apple, lemon curd, brioche, and frangipan tart swirl from the glass. With a rich mouthfeel and tension on the palate, notes of ripe stone fruit, baked apple, and hints of baking spices with firm acidity are slightly softened by soft caramel. A food friendly wine, it is bright, round and rich, yet still refined perfect with a firm white fish or summer pasta.
$45 a bottle | $540 per case(12 bottles)