2023 Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
The 2023 Chardonnay Heintz Vineyard is redolent of apricot, tangerine peel, dried flowers and a healthy dollop of sweet oak. Heintz is one of the great vineyards in Sonoma. This soft, innocuous Chardonnay captures very little of that personality.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2023 Chardonnay Heintz Vineyard comes from vines planted in Goldridge soils about 1,000 feet above sea level. Matured for 13 months in 33% new French oak, it has inviting aromas of peach, apricot, honey, roasted almonds and candle wax. The medium-bodied palate is rich yet tense, its concentrated flavors foiled by softly tangy acidity, and it has a long, flint-laced finish. 180 cases were made.
Pouring a medium golden yellow, the 2023 Chardonnay Heintz Vineyard comes from a site composed of pure Goldridge soils that sits right on the edge of Green Valley. It’s bright on the nose with notes of lime zest, white pepper, delicate flint, and white peach, while the palate is ripe, with a medium to full-bodied frame, and in this vintage has mouthwatering tension that cinches the wine, which will likely flesh out as it opens. It has laser-like acidity in this vintage that drives the wine, and the chalky, pithy texture lasts through the finish. Drink 2026-2038. These are the spring releases from Williams-Selyem and were tasted with Vice President and Director of Winemaking Jeff Mangahas at the estate in the Russian River Valley.
About the producer
Williams Selyem is an iconic Russian River Valley winery best known for its Pinot Noir. Producing restrained yet classically Californian expressions of the heartbreak grape (as well as a host of other wines), the property has gone from pioneer to one of the region’s standard-bearers.