CAM X Lot 4 & Lot 11 Mix and Match FUTURES OFFER (12 bottles)

From producer Cameron Hughes:

Lot 4 is the archetype for Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, representing Burgundian purity at its best!

Lot 4 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay comes to us from what many winemakers claim is the finest vineyard for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in California. Located just outside of Freestone on a south facing hillside of Goldridge soils at 400-800 feet, this is truly one of California's Grand Cru sites for Burgundian varietals. Similar to other Grand Cru sites like Ritchie Vineyard, vintners compete for the rights to purchase fruit from this vineyard with bottle prices ranging from $60 all the way up to $150.

But, by the sounds of it, they shall compete no more. The vineyard was recently purchased and new ownership is taking all the fruit in-house. Turns out my winemaker is friendly with their winemaker and we got a phone call that ownership was trimming their sails on the inaugural bottling, would we like first crack at the excess gallonage? Hell, yeah.

Quite frankly, I was in just on the first sniff. The wine came with a price, however, as I paid twice the market rate to close. Nevertheless, I still think it's a fantastic deal, especially when you consider their plan is to launch their brand well north of $100/bottle. 

Trust me on this one folks, if you love racy, lip-smacking acidity with tremendous purity and complexity, this beautiful Burgundian-styled Chardonnay is right up your alley.

From producer Cameron Hughes:

Get your fingers ready Russian River Chardonnay fans! Lot 11 is the wine you have been waiting for!

Sourced from a compendium of 3 different grand cru Russian River Valley vineyards (let's just say in the same league as Ritchie Vineyard), Lot 11 2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a seriously sophisticated but decidedly delicious Chardonnay.

Here's the scoop, backed up with 2021 and 2022 vintage, the producer (from whom I have been buying for years) combined a few barrels from each of their $70-$80/bottle single vineyard designates into one blend for me. I paid about 50% over market for the privilege but I was happy to do so, the wine is incredible and still a mind-blowing value. If you love Russian River Valley Chardonnay, this is probably the best Chardonnay I have offered from this region.

Barrel-fermented in new french oak and them aged in a combination of one-year old and neutral barrels, the picture perfect 2023 vintage offers us an opulent, beautifully balanced (if not downright elegant), Chardonnay with chalky acidity carrying a melange of ripe orchard and tropical fruit with beautifully integrated oak. I should note, the producer sells their entry level Russian River Chardonnay for $50-$60/bottle and recently awarded a 93-point score in the Wine Enthusiast.

This is better juice here folks, and I suspect today you will find it significantly less expensive :-).