2023 Chardonnay
Tasting Notes
This vintage of Fort Ross Chardonnay reveals a tighter, more focused style. Aromas of white peach, lemon curd, and flint give way to a precise and zesty palate of green apple, lime oil, and subtle almond cream. The wine’s acidity is laser-sharp, focusing its core while preserving the generous texture imparted by a year of quietly aging in oak. The coastal air and mountains add layers of complexity, culminating in a finish that hums with citrus and chalk. A quintessential cool-climate Chardonnay built for both immediate pleasure and graceful aging.
Wine Specs
- Aging:
- 11 months in French oak; 30% new
- Bottling Date:
- August 2024
- Cases:
- 478
Vineyard Notes
The 2023 harvest season began later than usual, but the results were exceptional. Record-high winter rains revitalized the soils, promoting healthy vine growth and robust canopies. Cooler temperatures throughout the spring and summer provided the grapes with conditions to develop gradually, allowing for extended ripening time. This cool and late season brought refined and elegant wines with great acidity. As the season progressed into October, a brief window of warmer weather pushed the grapes to reach ripeness. This combination of factors—ample water supply, cool growing conditions, and a warm, dry finish—culminated in a harvest that promised exceptional wines. The 2023 vintage exhibits remarkable balance, complexity, and depth of flavor, reflecting the meticulous care and favorable conditions of the growing season.
Reviews
96 Points
A medium golden/yellow color, the 2023 Chardonnay Fort Ross-Seaview comes from four blocks across the estate and is savory and refreshing with notes of sea spray, lemon oils, crushed stones, graham cracker spice, and fresh pineapples, as well as subtle, salty mineral persistence. It has fantastic tension, with great length and a clean finish. Drink 2025-2037.
—Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck