Ceritas 'Zephyr' Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA 2020

VINTAGE : 2020

COUNTRY : USA

REGION/APPELLATION : California, Sonoma Coast 

VARIETALS : Chardonnay 

Ceritas’ viticulturalist, Greg Adams, was approached by a quality-focused family 15 years ago to plant a site in one of the most dramatic sites. We’ve longed to work with this site, and in 2018 the owners from Red Car Winery approached us with the idea to work with specific blocks of grapes from this site. We jumped at the opportunity.

Perched above the Freestone Valley sits the Zephyr vineyard smack in the bullseye of the coastal influences flowing between the Bodega Headlands and the Sebastopol Hills. Cold air sweeps across the low-lying coastal hills bringing in moisture-laden fog and scents of sea spray. The meager sandstone soils with little to no topsoil restrict the growth of the vines here, bringing near-perfect balance to the small crop they need to ripen. Zephyr is the last Chardonnay site that we harvest in the West Sonoma Coast, a full two weeks after Porter-Bass, Charles Heintz, and Carex. This is an exotic version of Chardonnay, unlike any other wine. Savory and salty with notes of green tea and star jasmine.

"The 2020 Chardonnay Zephyr comes from a site overlooking the town of Freestone that sits on top of deep sandstone soils. It is fresh with saline, white peach, lime candy, and the palate has a lightly herbal savor, a bit more concentration and zippy acid, and a long finish. Drink over the next 10-15 years." Jeb Dunnuck 94 points