96 Points The Wine Independent
The 2022 Cuvee Number Five Chardonnay is a blend of two vineyards, with only 300 cases made. It swans out with showy notes of beeswax, candied ginger, and orange blossom leading to a core of pineapple upside-down cake and guava with a touch of apple butter. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and taut, with spicy tropical fruit supported by well-knit freshness and a satiny texture, finishing with epic length.
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from two sites at almost 1300 feet elevation, the 2022 Chardonnay Cuvee Number Five saw 11 months in barrel. In the glass, it pours a bright yellow hue with a green tinge and is pure on the nose, with notes of pineapple, candied lime, wet stone, almond, and delicate flint. Medium to full-bodied, it’s silky and refined on the palate, with a fantastic, weightless feel. While it’s ripe, it’s fully dry and very well-styled to drink over the next 6-8 years.
94 Points Vinous
A blend from two Sonoma Coast sites above 900 feet in elevation (Sunchase and Nightwing), the 2022 Chardonnay Cuvée Number Five is a rockstar of an appellation-level wine. Soft-textured, caressing and even-tempered, it coasts through the mouth with toasted hazelnut, mint, white flowers and chalk hints. Bright, citrus-fresh acidity keeps things moving, finishing with an oily tangerine peel note. Fermentation and aging in 65% new French oak for 11 months was expertly judged.
Winemakers Notes
Dazzling in the glass with a pale lemon core and tinges of youthful green around its edge, the unmistakable expressions of the Sonoma Coast burst forth with sleek and focused notes of crisp pear, peach blossom, and an undertone of racy minerality.The expansive mouthfeel is built upon pure flavors of Honeycrisp apple, lemon meringue, and a hint of brioche that adds an unctuous complexity to its bright and textured finish.
