Fall Release Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay
2022

Winemaker’s Notes

Since planting in 1974, Lorenzo has established itself as one of the greatest Chardonnay vineyards in California. These old vines, expertly tended by the wonderful Bazzano Family, produce a wine of the highest distinction and complexity - Californian Chardonnay aristocracy and history writ large. A cool location and swelling clay soils, alongside genetic vine material from a pre-clonal era, produces a wine that is crystalline, almost glacial, in its intensity and purity. Influenced by the diverse forest surrounding the site, the wine is among the most complex in our portfolio. Less is often more, and we are limited by these low-yielding old vines to between eight and ten barrels each year. We opt to harvest the vineyard quite early to capture all the delicate nuances of the vines then limit winemaking technique to offer as transparent a representation as possible. Our 2022 Lorenzo is one of the finest we’ve produced from the site. It reminds me of the beautiful 2018 vintage.

The wine’s aromas and flavors are akin to flint, oyster shell, white flowers, and grapefruit. There's crisp intensity and deeper beeswax richness. Lime zest, dried oregano, and fresh lemon add detail. A fine line of acidity combines with saline freshness to lengthen the wine’s complex natural character. You could decant this for an hour before serving to hasten its development. Drink between 2025 and 2030 and serve no cooler than 55º F.

Andy Smith