91 Points: Virginie Boone Wine Enthusiast - November 2017

“Subdued in oak, this bright intriguing wine does a nice job showcasing tart tangy flavors of green olive and green apple, while still maintaining a freshness at its core. It is moderately structured and teased in a twist of lime.”

The 2015 vintage started with an early bud break that accelerated the vintage. We had heat accumulation that added up quickly, which led to an earlier pick compared to most vintages. All three of the ranches were picked before September 20th, 2015. Despite the early picking date, the fruit maintained high acid levels, which is true to our traditional style for this wine.

The grapes for this Chardonnay came exclusively from three different blocks of the famed Sangiacomo Vineyard, with the majority of the fruit coming from the Kiser Ranch and Rich Kiser Ranches. A small portion came from Roberts Road, which is more exposed to the winds from the Petaluma Gap. For three generations, the Sangiacomo family has been growing grapes in and around the town of Sonoma. Recognized as master winegrowers, their fruit is highly prized for its consistent quality and delicious flavor profiles.

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 13.5%
• cases made:

  20 Barrels
  500 Cases

• fermentation:

  Whole cluster pressed then cold settled for 48 hours, then racked into French oak for primary and malolactic fermentation

92 Points: Jeb Dunnuck JebDunnuck.com - June 2019

“From a well-known site in the Russian River Valley, the 2017 Chardonnay Charles Heintz Russian River Valley offers an exotic honeyed grapefruit, crushed citrus, white flower, and tangerine nose. It's rich, has a viscous, layered texture, good concentration, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a singular, exotic (which is a hallmark of this vineyard) Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.”

The 2017 growing season started off as a wet one. Record rainfall through April invigorated the vines and bolstered canopies. Moderate-to-warm temperatures followed, allowing the vines to bloom and mature fruit in a balanced and tempered way. We did apply more leafing in our canopy management to counter the invigorating effects of the rain. All of our Chardonnay blocks were picked prior to the devastating wine country fires in early October, leaving all wine lots free of possible smoke influence. Grapes were picked on September 26th, 2017.

Charles Heintz has been growing premium Chardonnay grapes for decades. His namesake vineyard is located in the westernmost part of the Russian River Valley, making it our coolest climate site. Charlie himself has said, “It’s like growing Chardonnay in a rain cloud out here.”

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 14.5%
• cases made:

  162 Cases

• bottling date: 08/13/2018
• aging:

  Aged 10 months sur lie in French oak, 86% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Whole cluster pressed then racked into French oak for primary and malolactic fermentation.

91 Points: Wine Spectator

The 2017 growing season started off as a wet one. Record rainfall through April invigorated the vines and bolstered canopies. Moderate-to-warm temperatures followed, allowing the vines to bloom and mature fruit in a balanced and tempered way. We did apply more leafing in our canopy management to counter the invigorating effects of the rain. All of our Chardonnay was picked prior to the devastating wine country fires in early October, so that had no influence. The vineyard is planted to Clone 17. To ensure that the fruit was delivered to the winery cool, and in pristine condition, the grapes were harvested by hand on the night of September 19th, 2017.

Wohler is a beautiful vineyard named for, and located on, Wohler Road in the heart of the Russian River Valley. It is planted on the valley floor, where dense fog frequently settles, keeping the ripening process slow and steady. The site’s fertile soils lead to healthy vines that produce classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay aromas and flavors.

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 14.1%
• cases made:

  234

• bottling date: 08/13/2018
• aging:

  We used 20% new oak to give the wine a rich palate

• fermentation:

  Press as whole clusters

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in up to a 10-30% reduction in yields. The growing season was temperate, which in grape growing means we were on track or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. 2022 was a year for vintage-to-vintage variation and differentiation between vineyards. The grapes used to craft this wine were harvested on August 24, 2022.

The Dutton family has been growing grapes in Sonoma County—specifically the Russian River Valley—for generations. Their fruit is highly prized, as their knowledge of the land and meticulous farming has resulted in exceptional consistency and quality over the years. The Clone 96 grapes for this Chardonnay came exclusively from the Dutton’s Braughton Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, where the marine influence produces an intense fog layer that regularly covers the region during the growing season, creating a perfect microclimate for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 13.8%
• cases made:

  539 Cases

• bottling date: 08/16/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak barrels,17% new / 26% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Whole cluster pressed then racked to French oak for fermentation and partial malolactic.

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in up to a 10-30% reduction in yields. The growing season was temperate, which in grape growing means we were on track or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. 2022 was a year for vintage-to-vintage variation and differentiation between vineyards. We picked the grapes from Milovina Vineyard on September 1, 2022.

Located in the western hills north of Hopland, Milovina Vineyard is farmed by the Milovina family, fourth-generation farmers who acquired their Mendocino County Home Ranch in 1957. Impeccably manicured and sustainably farmed, Milovina Vineyard is surrounded by olive trees and historic homes and farmhouses. While the site’s somewhat inland location ensures warm, sun-filled days, temperatures cool dramatically at night yielding a beautiful expression of Chardonnay with alluring aromas, vibrant acidity and complex flavors.

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 14.4%
• cases made:

  340

• bottling date: 08/15/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months on the lees in French oak, 14% were new and 43% one-year-old.

• fermentation:

  Whole cluster pressed then cold settled, then racked into French oak for primary and malolactic fermentation.

93 Points: Tom Capo Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide - June/July 2024

“Sunshine in a glass. The nose of this immaculately balanced Char­donnay incorporates aromas of crème brûlée, hon­eysuckle and pineapple. The palate is equally bright, with a tropical personality showing zesty citrus and ripe pear flavors. A textural finish brings loads of spice and zippy acid.”

91 Points: MaryAnn Worobiec Wine Spectator - 2024

“Appealing for its focus and firm acidity, which provide plenty of structure to the orange peel, apple, grilled Meyer lemon, dried ginger and pear pastry flavors, with hints of tarragon and jasmine lingering on the fresh finish. Drink now.”

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in up to a 10-30% reduction in yields. The growing season was temperate, which in grape growing means we were on track or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. 2022 was a year for vintage-to-vintage variation and differentiation between vineyards. The vineyard is cordon pruned and planted to Clone 95 Chardonnay. This clone produces small clusters and small berries, which contribute to this wine’s pure, concentrated flavors and aromas. To ensure that the fruit was delivered to the winery cool and in pristine condition, the grapes were harvested by hand on the night of September 6th, 2022.

Mirabelle is a beautiful vineyard located along Wohler Road in the heart of the Russian River Valley. It is planted on the valley floor where dense fog frequently settles, keeping the ripening progress slow and steady. The site’s fertile soils lead to healthy vines that produce classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay aromas and flavors.

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 14.2%
• cases made:

  304 cases

• bottling date: 08/16/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 31% new, 15% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Whole cluster pressed then cold settled for 48 hours, then racked into French oak for primary and malolactic fermentation