DuMol 2023 Chardonnay “Estate” Russian River Valley 97 Points

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “The higher elevation cousin to the Bressay, the 2023 Chardonnay DuMol Estate comes from a two-acre section of the vineyard planted to the Mt. Eden clone of Chardonnay. From this protected, tree-shaded site with high-density spacing (which ripens about a week later), the wine displays a bright yellow color and offers a wonderful, focused drive on the nose, with notes of fresh ginger, fresh apples, lime, and saline. It has a compact core with good density, although it ultimately showcases its more cool-vintage character with its vibrant energy and persistent length. Drink 2025-2037..”

Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Palate) 97 Points: “The 2023 Chardonnay Estate leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of green mango, fresh pineapple, and lemongrass, followed by hints of wet slate and fresh ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers energetic tropical fruit flavors and gingery accents with a racy line and a minerally finish.”

James Suckling 97 Points: ” Laser-focused on citrus flavors and offering brilliant, bracing acidity that makes it feel so linear and fresh. Lemon zest, lime curd, and a bit of green apple freshness, then chalky minerals and white pepper as you keep sipping. An amazingly fresh wine with a low pH, more likely in a German Riesling. Drinkable now, but best from 2029.”

Winemaker Notes: “As is customary, our DuMOL Estate Vineyard Chardonnay is the most dynamic, complex, and cerebral white wine of the vintage— which is not to say that it lacks deliciousness, but simply that its fruit has a naturally savory, botanical focus. This small, shaded vineyard parcel, planted to high vine density, is surrounded by the aromatic coastal forest, and this has a huge impact on the wine’s aromas and flavors—that’s terroir in action. What we get are sweet herbal notes of tarragon and sage, white
pepper and dried mint, bay laurel and chalky freshness. It’s a wine of great nuance and detail, which has incredible intensity of lemon and lime fruits, oily textural richness, and brisk mineral acidity. A true wine of its coastal Sonoma origins.
High-toned aromas and flavors of lime, chamomile, jasmine, and kiwi are deeply intertwined. The wine is zesty, electric, and detailed. Full-bodied, with oily richness and snappy acidity, the wine’s balance is near perfect. This complex matrix of flavor and structure lingers long on the wine’s finish, which blends lemongrass and honeyed richness. Drink between 2025 and 2035. A gentle decant might be beneficial to open up the wine’s full texture.”