Lot 614 | 2025 Russian River Valley Chardonnay 750ml
***BOTTLING EARLY MAY, SHIPPING SHORTLY AFTER*** When we’re flying in and out of Charles M. Schulz STS Airport, we make sure to grab a window seat and do a négociant’s version of window shopping – on a clear day, the flight paths give you views of some of the greatest vineyards in the Russian River Valley. We like to play a little game of identifying them from the sky, though our gazes tend to linger on a select few whose reputation commands ultimate respect even among their illustrious peers. One site that always transfixes us is a legendary property considered Russian River Royalty – perhaps comparable to Montrachet’s influence in Burgundy. Anyone who even casually follows the region is familiar with the name, so what better way to introduce our first white wine from the 2025 vintage than from these revered vines? Lot 614 is a 100% estate-grown, single-vineyard marvel. One of the greatest skills a veteran winemaker can have is to know when to step back, and that’s what we have on display here – a beautifully simple approach was taken by fermenting and aging entirely in stainless steel and withholding malolactic, producing a fiercely refreshing expression of pristine Chard that would please even stubborn Sauv Blanc devotees. Grapes of this quality don’t need much intervention – they possess a natural world-class depth that shines brightest without a coat of oak. While bottles from these rows command a pretty penny (with some even reaching triple-digit prices), today’s acquisition is our source’s estate program priced in the more “affordable” $50 range, but we’ve still negotiated it down to a stunning price! Keep your eyes on the scenery as you’re flying through on your next Napa or Sonoma trip – you just might see where today’s star offering began its journey. Our price: $19/bottle! 2025 delivered a classically cool Russian River growing season, providing ample acidity. The absence of extreme heat events elongated ripening, affording extra hang time for added depth. Our source’s vines are rooted to the region’s signature fine-grained Goldridge soils, which limit vigor and produce grapes of divine concentration. The 100% stainless steel treatment affords the estate’s winemaker maximum control of temperature from the initial stages of fermentation through the end of aging, ensuring supreme precision. Golden apple, delicate starfruit, and Asian pear rise from the glass, threaded with a subtle crème brûlée note for extra dimension. An expertly balanced wine greets the palate with concentrated orchard fruit and citrus blossoms, backed by a fine mineral spine and lift from welcome acidity. The finish is long and refined, persisting with trailing notes of fresh apples and crushed white florals that will undoubtedly have you wanting another pour. 14% alc