PRE-SALE: ETA 3 Weeks from Order Date. Must order before 12/5/24
96 Points The Wine Independent
The 2022 Chardonnay Estate, from the Mt Eden clone, needs a little shaking and patient swirling to bring out notes of wet slate, freshly squeezed lemons, and green apples with touches of salted almonds and lime leaves. The medium-bodied palate delivers racy citrus flavors with a refreshingly long and saline finish.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
From a site surrounded by dense forest on two sides, the 2022 Chardonnay DuMOL Estate Vineyard is a bright straw hue and has a more vibrant aromatic nose of fresh mint, bright lime, flint, crushed stones, and white peach. Medium to full-bodied, it boasts a remarkably firm structure with a bit of tannin, a chalky texture, and a savory slanting profile, and it’s long and persistent on the finish. It has an assertive but crystalline feel and a crunchy brightness. It demands a bit of time. Drink 2025-2035.
96 Points James Suckling
Fresh aromas of sage, thyme, lemon curd and green apples. Medium-bodied with balance and verve. It’s minerally at the end with refinement, balance and al dente fruit. A gorgeous and transparent wine. Drink now.
Winemaker Notes
Our organically farmed high-density Estate parcel sits at the top of the ridge amongst the diverse coastal forest. Although the soil is sandy, there’s a vein of clay in the subsoil that holds winter rain and allows us to dry-farm the vines. The tight spacing keeps the clusters and soil shaded during the summer heat, which allows the fruit to retain all the nuance of the site. The wine produced here has a character - a signature - all to itself and cannot be replicated elsewhere; it's the antithesis of fruity, forward, easy-to-understand Californian Chardonnay. The grapes are small with thick skins, producing a high level of fruit extract, which translates to deep texture and structure in the wine itself. Concentration allied to freshness is the essence of this wine, and it ages beautifully in bottle for ten to twelve years.
The wine’s aromas and flavors are incredibly complex and diverse, akin to citrus oil, preserved lemon, sage, fennel and caraway. The wine is deep, powerful, and layered with oyster shell freshness cutting through the natural density. Lemongrass, spearmint, and grapefruit power the finish, which pulsates with intensity. You could decant this for an hour before serving to hasten its development. Drink between 2025 and 2030. Serve no cooler than 55º F.
