March 28, 2024 - 5th of 8 bottles, enjoyed this bottle at home as we were cooking family dinner.
"Goes down easy", said my father. This pretty, delicious and judiciously flavored Chardonnay is just right.
Orchard fruits, a hint of citrus and salinity, and a spicy topnote, make it interesting and tasty.
The acidity is ample for a clean yet slightly luxurious finish. Drink through 2028+.
March 24, 2024 - 4th of 8 bottles. Enjoyed at the end of a beach trip, while cleaning the house.
Apples and lemon tarts, with quinine, salt and ginger.
Nice acidity on the finish. Drink through 2030 or so.
June 14, 2023 - Pale yellow with green tints. Lemon, cream, wet limestone on the nose. Lemon fruit on the palate, high acids, low alcohol (12%), crisp, almost spritzy texture, nice bite of citrus rind at the back, very long finish. Taut, lean, and delicious.
April 28, 2023 - 3rd of 8 bottles, lovely Chardonnay. No formal TN, enjoyed at the beach.
November 24, 2022 - Oh yes, this is everything I could ask for from a domestic Chardonnay.
Must be from "up in the mountains" (Santa Cruz Mtns, that is).
Red apple, ginger, pear and wet stones, showing a bit of salinity and definition as it winds into the long and brilliant finish.
Drink this pretty Chardonnay over the next 10 yrs.
July 19, 2022 - Dense and lean, this was intense on the palate with lemon and chalk notes and cracking acidity. The finish has more breadth, rounding out with a little creamy richness. Excellent stuff, seemingly with years in reserve given how much energy it has.
March 2, 2022 - 1st of 8 bottles.
Deliciously rich yet minerally-driven Chardonnay from Model Farm, in the Santa Cruz Mtns.
No formal TN, consumed over 2 days and held up beautifully over that time.
Apples with generous citrus bite and chalky soil signature, the acidity was bright and the finish was long. Drink through 2027+.
December 26, 2021 - Final bottle. This drinks great with pear, pineapple and orange in a medium weight texture.
November 20, 2021 - Tasty chardonnay, but a bad value. Lots of citrus, a bit of brioche, and some stoniness.
April 18, 2021 - My 4 pack arrived just a month ago and I've been waiting for a good time to open one. it hearted up outside today and with the Dr Mrs making a lemon chicken piccata tonight, it seemed like the perfect fit. Opened 30 mins ago. 6 barrels made, just 12.7% ABV. The site for this wine comes from the Santa Cruz Mountains, from own-rooted vines planted in 1973 using the old Wente Clone. Farmed organic. At cellar temp, and being warmed quickly by the outside air, this drinks superb. Floral, with tangerine, yellow apple, pineapple. There is a tangy lemon impression from the acidity, which gives the wine length. There is an ever so gentle note of vanilla here but it's subtle, joined by some fennel, both creating the finish with the acidity. Much like all the previous iterations of this Chardonnay, it's about good cut and fruit precision. $49 off the mailing list, made by Joanna and Sean, who for me really seem to get it. I keep encouraging people to support them, to take a look at their website and give their wines a shot. Just Chard and Syrah, made without much oak, with plenty of acid and balance, farmed with care and priced really well.