DuMOL 2022 Chardonnay “Wester Reach” Russian River Valley 95 Points

Winemaker Notes: “Our 2022 vintage of “Wester Reach” Chardonnay is a multi-layered interpretation of this classic region where we live and farm. It includes some of the finest sites in the appellation – vineyards that we have planted, farmed, and harvested for over twenty years. Comprising four of our region’s unique sub-districts, the wine blends fruit from the valley itself with vineyards further west, stretching out to the coolest ‘reaches’ of the appellation’s high-elevation coastal ridges. Each district contributes something unique, be it valley-floor richness, ridgeline acidity, or coastal vibrancy. From the Middle Reach in the north, the broad orchard fruit generosity of our Flax Estate centers the wine. Directly across the river, El Diablo’s volcanic hillside emphasizes texture and density. On the Santa Rosa plain, we layer in Cornerstone with its piercing acidity and honeyed richness. As we leave the valley itself and inch towards the coast, Winners Circle on the Laguna Ridge provides elegant stone fruit characters. Our own Bressay Estate, in the heart of Green Valley, completes the wine with citrus oil intensity and savory acidity.  Lovely aromatic purity: pear, honeydew, lemon sorbet, and baked apple notes alongside white flower, spearmint, and sea spray edges. Stone and citrus fruit flavors dominate the palate which is broad and enveloping and expands to honeyed lemon and hazelnut richness. The wine’s texture is chewy and layered before fresh acidity lifts the long intense flinty finish. Drink between 2024 and 2028.”

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points: “A bright yellow color, the 2022 Chardonnay Wester Reach is a textbook example of this vintage, with a lot of elegance and a wide drinking window. From the Russian River Valley and aged in 25% new oak barrels for 11 months, it takes on more glycerol richness and a rounded profile. A great wine out of the gate, it captures the sunny feel of the region, but it’s light on its feet and closes with a great finish. This is a crowd-pleaser of a wine, and I would be happy to have this on my table at any stage. Drink 2024-2032.”

James Suckling 95 Points: “A structured and layered white with apple, light honey, and acacia aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Creamy mouthfeel. The phenolic texture runs through the wine and offers a flavorful yet subtle finish. Touch of flint and cedar. Drink or hold.”