2023 Florez Wines, Chardonnay Pegleg Sonoma Mountain

Details

Winemakers note: I personally like to taste wines side by side and with reference, so I decided to make a terroir study between the Santa Cruz Mountains (see Moonmilk above) and Sonoma Mountain in this one, both highly esteemed terroirs for California Chardonnay.

Grape: 100% Chardonnay

Vineyard: Minnes, Nelson, Sonoma Mountain. Steep south-facing hillside with well-drained metavolcanic soils. Farmed by Jamess friend and peer David Rothschild, an upcoming figure within the natural California winemakers as a proud and skillful organic grower.

Making of: Half of the fruit was foot tread, and pressed the following day. The other half was direct pressed. Hence the name Pegleg, one foot in one foot out (also David, the grower, is half pirate, James says). Both were barrel fermented in neutral French oak with native yeasts & bacteria. Topped, left undisturbed & sur lie for 10 months before a single racking, then bottled. No additives including no added sulfites.

Personality: We picked2021a bit earlier and the wine is zestier and with lower alcohol than 2020. Aromatics of citrus, stone fruit, and leaven. Dry, yet creamy with a firm acidity. While good now, age will benefit the weight of this wine, James says.