2017 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, WestLands

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast

Dynamic and approachable, this wine stands out as both an aperitif and a dinner wine.

For our first vintage of this Chardonnay, the nose is reminiscent of honeysuckle and sweet pea. With racy acidity, the palate is tempered by creamy notes from the French oak. Dynamic and approachable, this wine stands out as both an aperitif and a dinner wine.

Winemaker’s Notes

The 2017 vintage was an excellent one — well-balanced with moderate yields due to a heat spike later in the season. We were very fortunate to have picked all of our fruit prior to the October 2017 North Bay Fires, so the widespread devastation did not affect our wines.

The Vineyard

WestLands Chardonnay espresses the essence of the West Sonoma Coast. It is barrel-selected from our favorite vineyards west of Sebastopol. All the vineyards used for this wine are in close proximity to each other and are within 10 miles of the Pacific Ocean.

 

From cool-climate vineyards west of Sebastopol, this white is floral in jasmine and earthy, with fresh focused acidity. Apple, citrus and wet stone combine for a light, bright and effusive experience that finishes lushly in oak.

Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast

Technical Details

Type

White

Varietal

Chardonnay

Region

California

Appellation

Sonoma Coast

Vintage

2017

Vineyard

H. Klopp, Dutton Mill Station

Harvest Date

2017-09-04

Bottling Date

2019-05-01

Aging

Aged 16 months in French oak, 25% of which was new.

Fermentation

Hand harvested and sorted then de-stemmed. Three to five day cold soak. Fermented separately by clone. Gentle pump-over and punch-downs during fermentation. 85% malolactic fermentation.

Alcohol

14.2%

pH

3.25

TA

6.9 g/L

Download Technical Sheet