Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard, Kutch 2018

13.4% alc., 425 cases. Old Wente clone planted in 1977 in sandy loam soils at 600 feet elevation 3.5 miles inland. Whole cluster pressed, indigenous yeast fermentation, natural malolactic fermentation, minimally effective S02, and aged in French oak barrels, 20% new. · Light golden color in the glass. Seductive aromas of preserved lemon, white peach and slate. Flavors of lemon and pineapple with a hint of salinity that fan out on the palate and exit with some length. Shot through with electric acidity creating a crisp, dry and refreshing drinking experience. Still wondrous when tasted the following day from a previously opened bottle. Terrific!!

Coming from the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 2018 Chardonnay Trout Gulch offers more minerality as well as rocking notes of buttered stone fruits, toasted almonds, Meyer lemons, and lots of marine-like salinity. Reminding me of a Chardonnay from Rhys with its vibrant, mineral-laced, medium-bodied style, it's another classic, age-worthy Chardonnay that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age. 2022 onwards

his vineyard is located in the southern portion of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, near the town of Aptos, and sits a mere 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the Pacific Ocean at an elevation of 600 feet (182 m) on sandy loam soil. It was planted in 1977 and is farmed sustainably. The wine was whole-cluster pressed into 20% new French oak barrels where it was fermented and aged. 350 cases produced. Pale gold. Riveting aromas of lemon oil and pine resin. Silky-textured, resinous flavours of lemon curd and lemon juice mix with pink grapefruit and a touch of white flowers. Lovely wet-pavement notes accompany the zippy citrus qualities of the wine which vibrate with fantastic acidity. Outstanding balance, nervosity and flavour. Without doubt, one of the best Californian Chardonnays on the market. 13.4%. 2020-2030

The 2018 Trout Gulch Vineyard chardonnay cuvée from Jamie Kutch is also made from old vines, as this vineyard was planted in 1977. Like the Sonoma Coast, it is barrel-fermented with indigenous yeasts and was raised in twenty percent new oak and also tips the scales at 13.4 percent alcohol. It spent one year in cask and then was racked to stainless steel tanks for six months finishing prior to bottling. The bouquet here is a refined blend of apple, white peach, lovely minerality, a touch of orange peel and a discreet base of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and shows lovely backend mineral drive, with a good core of fruit, fine focus and balance and a long, zesty and complex finish. This too will age long and gracefully. 2020-2035

Clone 17 and Wente. 41-year-old vines at 600 ft. Dry-farmed, organically. Everything about the aroma is subtle at first: citrus, a reductive touch (struck match) and underneath something rather pretty even though it is clearly a cool-climate restrained style. With air that struck-match character shows more clearly. In the mouth this is more powerful, with marked (and delicious) reductive character and real drive across the palate. Intense and beautifully fresh and lingering on the finish. 2021-2028