Spring Release Charles Heintz Vineyard Isobel Chardonnay
2023

Winemaker’s Notes

Our new release 2023 Charles Heintz Vineyard Isobel is a sort of distilled essence of this iconic old vineyard. High in elevation and close to the Pacific coast, there’s a clarity and precision to the light and air up there on the Occidental ridgeline—not to mention a big sky aura—no wonder we’ve sourced here for over twenty-five years. And so, here we have one of our finest ever efforts in this long run, a wine that perfectly combines intense botanical coastal characters with the oily citrussy depth the vines naturally produce. The wine shimmers and shines, just like the place itself.

The wine’s swirling aromas weave between chamomile, lime, sea spray, and wet stone — they're grassy and fresh but with an underlying concentration. The palate is tangy, oily, and deep, with flavors akin to lemongrass, lemon sherbet, and kiwi. Deep viscous layers develop as the wine expands but are then cut by precise tense acidity that allows the finish to sail on. Drink between 2025 and 2035.

Andy Smith