Special Release Sonoma Coast Chenin Blanc
2019

Winemaker’s Notes

Certain young wines immediately grab your attention with their overt exuberance, while others gradually find your weak spot. Our second bottling of coastal Chenin Blanc somehow does both, and I struggle to recall when I was more excited about a wine produced from four-year-old vines. Most vineyards take at least eight years before they produce wines of this caliber, but this vintage of Chenin is quite remarkable. This is a serious Chardonnay alternative, not a simple summer white.

In the spirit of experimentation, we allowed this vintage to proceed through malolactic fermentation, so the wine is broad, deep, and slightly lower in acidity than its predecessor. We prefer this approach as it brings out layers of complexity in the wine - those savory details and nuanced vine signatures that make wine so endlessly fascinating.

Beautifully fragrant with aromas of cut grass, green herbs, fennel, and just-ripe pear. The flavors of lime and fresh apple are deep, viscous, and concentrated. A sense of energy runs through the wine despite this concentration with lifted notes of white pepper, ginger, and citrus zest. There is a chalkiness to the clean saline finish, alongside notes of chamomile and honeyed spice. Simply put, this is a thrilling wine.

Drink soon after release for its upfront oily intensity, but this wine’s best days lie between 2022 and 2025.

Andy Smith Viticulturist, Winemaker & Partner