After a home run debut-vintage last year, we are so happy to present this brand-new release from none other than Antonio Galloni’s 2020 Winemaker of the Year, Tony Biagi! From the Charlie Smith Vineyard on Sonoma’s Moon Mountain, this stunning single-vineyard Chardonnay will not last!
This beautiful, full-bodied Chardonnay from the Moon Mountain District high above the town of Sonoma at 1600ft above sea-level is an absolutely STUNNING sophomore effort. Tony has long been a steward of the land, with his boots planted firmly in the dirt from which his wines are grown and we are so happy he made it back up the mountaintop. The rugged terrain opposite the valley floor can be intimidating to growers, but the low-yielding nature offers up rewards of strikingly complexity. Like our favorite Burgundian whites from Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, whose distinct character comes from extreme elevations at 700-1500 feet, the real star of this show is the Charlie Smith Vineyard and its soaring heights. With help from agricultural guru Phil Coturri (Oakville Ranch, Kamen, Eisele Vineyard), Winemaker of the Year, Tony Biagi has crafted his best expression yet from the Charlie Smith Vineyard and today is the day to score your allocation of this grand-slam Chardonnay!
In the cellar Tony’s uses a modest approach to bring this wine to life. Allowing native yeast fermentations to set the course, his focus is to achieve balance with refreshing acidity and a seductive texture in every glass. Native Malolactic fermentation brought forth incredible weight and mouthfeel, accented by the careful addition of just 33% new French oak aging for 16 months. The wine is clean and bright with citrus fruit aromas and mineral notes upon first pour, followed by beeswax, honeysuckle and flint aromas. More tropical on the palate than the old-world counterparts we mentioned above with guava and pear flavors alongside subtle hints of vanilla. A complex finish that leans towards salty sea air and lemon balm before concluding with just enough toasted almond to keep you thirsty for more.
