DuMOL 2023 Isobel Chardonnay – Charles Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast 97+ Points

FMW 97+ Points: “I would say that is the BEST Isobel, ever. The wine kicks off with intense aromatics of peaches, lemons, and a whiff of vanilla. On the palate, this wine offers up a lush, full, intense yet extremely elegant, and flavorful body that is laced with gorgeous fruit, a hint of minerality, and a silky, oily texture with the right balance of fruit and acid ratio. The wine reminds me of a top-notch White Burgundy (at a lower price). This 20th vintage from the Charles Heintz vineyard is one for the books!

Jeb Dunnuck 96+ Points: “A medium yellow hue, the Dumol 2023 Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard Isobel offers the ripeness and decadence this site captures, though in this vintage, it leans more toward the mineral side, with white peach, salted pineapple, white flowers, and lemon peel citrus. The palate has medium to full-bodied richness, though it has a very elegant feel, with a lovely, savory texture and a long finish. It was aged in cigar-shaped barrels. Drink 2025-2037.”

Winery Notes: “Our new release 2023 Charles Heintz Vineyard Isobel is a sort of distilled essence of this iconic old vineyard. High in elevation and close to the Pacific coast, there’s a clarity and precision to the light and air up there on the Occidental ridgeline—not
to mention a big sky aura—no wonder we’ve sourced here for over twenty-five years. And so, here we have one of our finest ever efforts in this long run, a wine that perfectly combines intense botanical coastal characters with the oily citrussy depth the vines naturally produce. The wine shimmers and shines, just like the place itself. The wine’s swirling aromas weave between chamomile, lime, sea spray, and wet stone — they’re grassy and fresh but with an underlying concentration. The palate is tangy, oily, and deep, with flavors akin to lemongrass, lemon sherbet, and kiwi. Deep viscous layers develop as the wine expands but are then cut by precise tense acidity that allows the finish to sail on. Drink between 2025 and 2035.”