Ceritas Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA 2020
VINTAGE : 2020
COUNTRY : USA
REGION/APPELLATION : Sonoma Coast , Occidental
VARIETALS : Chardonnay
VINEYARD : Charles Heintz
Brainchild of husband and wife duo of John and Phoebe Raytek, Ceritas sells out instantly on the mailing list and a few lucky retailers ( AWCO ) are able to secure small quantities from time to time. Phoebe is a sonoma native having grown up in the famed Porter Bass vineyards ( owned by her Parents) Both John and Phoebe believe that quality of the fruit is what drives commitment to their growers and vineyard sites.
Unlike wineries that purchase fruit with minimal or no involvement in the vineyard, we prefer to be in the vineyards as often as possible, memorize every detail of each row, and wear the dirt. Farming with this level of intimacy allows us to better understand each site and its unique characteristics. It also enables us to provide the greatest opportunity for the vines to experience and express each growing season.Truth be told they spend more time in the vineyards than the winery.
Tucked away just east of the town of Occidental, Charles Heintz Vineyard is one of the region’s oldest historic vineyard sites. This site simply begged for wine grapes, specifically Chardonnay, with its classic Goldridge sandy loam soils, and the location just above the fog line, offering abundant sunshine with cool ocean breezes. These almost four-decade-old vines are one of the oldest Chardonnay vineyards on the Sonoma Coast.
Defying conventional wisdom of the 1980s, Heintz Vineyard has since proven to be superb Chardonnay terroir, its inherent richness balanced by bright acidity and briny minerality. We happily share the organically farmed section with a fellow winery, Littorai. While the fruit ripens slowly due to vine age, patience has its rewards: not only is the quality outstanding, but also the contrast of this Chardonnay to our other Chardonnays shows what this varietal is capable of.
"Sourced from a 5-acre plot that is organically grown on pure Goldridge sandy loam, the 2020 Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard takes on more depth, giving it a touch fuller style, and is fresh white peach, savory with pilsner, and brothy with saline minerality. The palate has a juicier mid-palate of green apple, vibrant pear, and just a hint of baking spice that tapers to fresh acidity." Jeb Dunnuck 96 points