2020 Ferren Wines Chardonnay Frei Road Vineyard
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The 2020 Chardonnay Frei Road Vineyard, matured for 12 months in 33% new French oak and six months in stainless steel, has an incredible personality and singular expression. It's bursting with scents of warm peaches, lemongrass, crème brûlée and beeswax. The medium-bodied palate is tremendously concentrated yet offers an ethereal, silky texture and electric acidity, and the finish goes on and on. "I worked with this fruit at Marcassin when I was there," recalls winemaker Matt Courtney. "It was at the top of my list as a source of Chardonnay for my own brand when I started Ferren." Just 78 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Chardonnay Frei Road Vineyard is a very pleasant Chardonnay to drink now and over the next handful of years. Naturally, the 2020 doesn't have the complexity or layers of the best years, but it does offer plenty of depth and pleasure in an immediate, giving style. Attractive floral overtones add an exotic flair on the close.
Lifted and energetic, the 2020 Chardonnay Frei Road Vineyard is fresh and bright with layers of citrus zest, lime leaf, dusty earth, well-integrated spice, white peach, and fresh citrus blossoms. Full-bodied, it offers a long silky texture, with wonderful refinement on the palate, and it’s flush with ripe pear, quince, and balanced spice. It’s a very attractive style to drink over the next 10-12 years. Founded by winemaker Matt Courtney and his longtime friend David Wherritt, Ferren focuses on single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the far Sonoma Coast. They had initially set out to be a Pinot Noir house, but they now produce an equal amount of Chardonnay, and the wines do not disappoint. The whites are textural, balanced, and highly expressive across the board.