Lot 584 | 2024 Sonoma County Chardonnay 750ml

***BOTTLING MID-APRIL, SHIPPING SHORTLY AFTER*** One of our favorite things about this program is getting opportunities to acquire passion projects from distinguished winemakers that never reach the public. Sometimes it’s because the quantity was too small to justify a full production run, or a sales director simply didn’t want to deal with finding a fit for a new program in the portfolio. Whatever the reason, we’re always excited to come across one of these “orphan” beauties that’s just too good to stay hidden. Today’s release is one such gem, produced by a master winemaker with grapes from two of Sonoma’s apex Chardonnay regions and crafted using peak inputs for a “best of both worlds” showcase. The output? A sumptuous, multidimensional Chardonnay wonderfully highlighting Sonoma’s top shelf. It’s a wine that only exists because of the contraction in the current market, and we wasted no time locking down this unique “one and done” labor of love. Lot 584 comes to us from a pioneering estate that’s long been considered a Sonoma standard bearer, with close relationships built over decades with other established families throughout the valley. The fruit hails from vineyards in the two most respected AVAs within Sonoma for Chardonnay: West Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. Now for the part that’ll really tickle your fancy: because of U.S. labeling laws, this wine can only be sold as “Sonoma County” rather than either of its two prestigious origins, which allowed us to drive an extra hard bargain on your behalf. Harsh? Perhaps, but rules are rules, and the result is us securing some of the best QPR on a top-end Chardonnay you’ll see all year: well under $50/bottle price tags of the core Chard programs from our source! They’ve also confirmed this project wasn’t repeated in the smaller 2025 harvest, making it a true unicorn. $18/bottle! Fruit from the cold West Sonoma Coast contributes electric acidity and tightly focused structure, while the Russian River Valley brings layers of citrus and ripe orchard fruit along with a rounded, luxurious texture. Artfully balancing the best of these two regions, the wine is a dazzling expression of Sonoma, fermented in stainless steel for freshness and aromatic precision, then aged in select barrels for 12 months to infuse the juice with a supple depth. This is a Chardonnay with just the right amount of everything: bold fruit flavors, splendid acidity, and a touch of warmth. The nose opens with lifted aromas of yellow apple buoyed by mango and Asian pear, followed by fresh butter and woodland mushrooms. The palate is beautifully concentrated and precisely drawn, with citrus and apple framed by a spine of striking acidity. Baking spice, brioche, and vanilla bean emerge through the mid-palate, building toward a mouth-watering finish of caramel and flint crescendoing alongside a lingering pulse of citrus and vanilla. 14.5% alc