2020 Aequorin Chardonnay

The 2020 Chardonnay Aequorin is rich, profoundly seductive and complex, with a whiff of incense, crushed walnut, clove and crushed green apple forming its compelling bouquet. Its silky textures and medium-bodied weight soothe, quickly taking on a saline tinge, infusing its tart orchard fruits. It finishes long yet crisply refreshing, perfumed with a savory spicy flourish that lingers on and on. There's an underlying power here that will reward cellaring. Well done.

The first of only two wines produced in 2020 and pouring a brilliant silver straw hue, the crystalline 2020 Chardonnay Aequorin is detailed with a refined perfume of pure honeycomb, wildflowers, fennel, orange blossom, and Anjou pear. It is full-bodied without excess weight, and it’s certainly the more linear of the two wines, floating through the palate with finesse and elegance. Its purity and length lasts for ages, with a weightless feel, and it’s lush with a silky viscous texture, incredible energy, and complete seamlessness that just embodies the wine. Absolutely stunning, it’s going to have a very wide drinking window over the coming 10 to 15 years. Maggie Harrison is a first-generation winemaker, having grown up in the Midwest. With an educational background in International Relations and Conflict Resolution, she fell in love with wine while working in restaurants and set out to follow that passion and create wine. She went on to land the position of assistant winemaker to Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non, where she remained for eight years. She is currently the co-owner and winemaker for Antica Terra, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay since 2005, and is also responsible for the Syrah at Lillian Winery in Santa Barbara. Initially, it had been her goal to only produce a singular wine, but during blind tastings for blending, she felt the various components would not necessarily complement one another and would overpower or detract from the other. Rather than force them to homogenize, each of the wines bottled today chases the individual and opposing personalities each possesses. Her wines are impeccably expressive and worth seeking out if you can get your hands on them. However, this year's exciting news should gradually increase your chances, as they have purchased a new woodland property where they will be planting new vines while retaining the biodiversity of the woodland area. The decision to make this leap was not to ramp up production outright but rather as a commitment to the team and to support and create outlets for their individual growth as well. Antica Terra did not produce any red wine in 2020. The two white wines they did produce were tasted at the winery and tasting room in July 2023. Their struggles and the efforts they put into the vintage were rewarded greatly, and their commitment to quality paid off in spades. I found these to be truly two of the best wines from the 2020 vintage. I have always found with these wines that I am never compelled to overly coax the wine in tasting. They are distinctive, singular wines that, when given the time to allow the wine to come to you, make the transcendence to art.