2020 MACAULEY Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

The 2020 Macauley Chardonnay has the kind of festive and fresh feel we strive for in our Chardonnay. The aromatics are a tropical carnival of candied pineapple, lemon yogurt, barrel toast and a hint of vanillin, along with notes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and citrus. The palate is rich but restrained. The vineyards around the Russian River will do that for Chardonnay, and with a creative mélange of one-third stainless steel, one-third French oak and one-third concrete, the layers just keep stacking up. We intentionally chose a non-maloactic fermentation process for this vintage to preserve its vibrancy and freshness, and that decision has paid its dividends. This could be a 10-year white, but you could be forgiven for uncorking it immediately. -Kirk Venge, Winemaker

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 MACAULEY Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

he Russian River sun shined brightly on the vineyards of Baccigalupi in 2021.

This finesse-driven Chardonnay, fermented and matured in a trio of stainless steel, concrete and French Oak barriques, shows a young and playful bouquet of pear, melon, marzipan, and a touch of burnt sugar and crème brûlée on the nose.  A bit further, and you’ll find some light, flinty notes of struck stone, foreshadowing the important aging effect that is to come. The mouth has a lovely and welcoming glycerol glide to the tip of the tongue upon entry. Bright rays of citrus acidity draw you into the tangerine and peach notes. The intriguing harmony will only build in the coming months and years that lie ahead. With an ideal timeframe to consume in the 3-5 year, it still should be drinking well in 10 years. 291 cases produced.-Kirk Venge, Winemaker

 

 

This 2019 vintage will be a classic. The old vine composition, from the 115-year-old plantings at Luvisi to those from  1900 hundred at Korte, combine for a deep and balanced Zinfandel. In keeping with the traditional style favored for California’s grape, a regimen in 35% new American Oak adds aromatic and textural subtlety, offering notes of coconut, clove, and vanilla spices. The weighted fore and aft on the palate, and the central balance of this wine might be the most intriguing thing about this wine. The entry begins with depth and ripeness, unrelenting through the mid-palate, and builds to a crescendo at the back. The abundantly rich, dark fruit is very friendly in this full-bodied Zin, which has been aged for 16 months in 35% new Nadalie’ Virginia Oak.  Nineteen barrels were produced.-Kirk Venge, Winemaker