Stuhlmuller Estate Chardonnay 2021, Alexander Valley, California

Stuhlmuller Vineyardds is a small, family owned winery in Alexander Valley just outside Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California. Their passion is terroir-driven, sustainably made wine with a sense of place and time. The family has grown grapes in Alexander Valley for almost 40 years and they have made wine at West Soda Rock Lane for 25 years. Stuhlmuller Vineyards, located in southern Alexander Valley, converges with two highly regarded Sonoma County appellations, Chalk Hill and Russian River Valley. On its eastern edge, the 150-acre vineyard borders the Russian River. Situated in a location that is part river benchlands and part hillside, the vineyard benefits from its alluvial gravel soils and the rockier soils of the hillside sections. Winemaking: one third of the fruit was treaded roughly, leaving it in bins for 3 hours of skin contact before pressing. To accentuate the signature fruit and natural nuttiness of the Estate grapes, the wine was fermented with 100% indigenous yeast. Fermentation and aging occurred in French oak barrels with 6% new oak as well as large format French oak casks. The wine was on fine fermentation lees for 9 months and underwent 85% indigenous malolactic fermentation. Tasting: Our 2021 Estate Chardonnay begins with aromas of pear, Meyer lemon, white flowers, honeysuckle, and Stuhlmuller Vineyard’s signature wet stone minerality. On the palate, it is lushly textured with flavors of poached pear, lemon custard, and brown baking spices. This elegant, medium bodied Chardonnay has a palate supported by bright, food-friendly natural acidity and lovely textural notes from the French oak and sur lie aging.