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Fall Release Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay
2018

Winemaker’s Notes

Our Lorenzo Vineyard bottling comes from a tiny superior section of this venerable old vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley, an elevated sandy/silty corner in a vineyard otherwise dominated by heavier clay/loam soils. Planted in 1974, these vines are expertly tended by the wonderful Bazzano family. 

This is a totally unique, highly specific, terroir-driven wine. Its style and quality can’t be replicated anywhere else, given the distinctive vine age, plant pedigree and very cool foggy vineyard site. With only six or seven barrels made each year, this will always be our most limited production, and the 2018 bottling is one of my favorite wines of the vintage.

Aromatically, the wine displays white flowers, savory herbs, flint and lemongrass, with a botanical sea-spray and mineral element that’s vibrant and intense. The palate is layered and multi-dimensional: stone fruit, oatmeal, lime juice and oyster shell. Its oily, weighty texture lends lemon curd richness offset by piercing mineral acidity. There’s a sense of hidden power, complexity and nuance that makes this wine so thrilling. Drink at 55° F between late 2020 and 2028. Bottled unfiltered.

Andy Smith


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Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay  - DuMOL

Vineyard

Harvest Date

september 25th

Appellation

Russian River Valley

Clones

Old Wente

Age of Vines at Harvest

44 years

Barrel Aging

aged 12 months in 28% new french oak barrels from tonnellerie mercurey followed by six months settling in tank.

Production

167 cases of 750mL

Press

96 Vinous Media, May 2021
93 Wine Advocate, July 2020