2014 Ladd Cellars Chardonnay - Sonoma Coast

Eric Lundblad makes wine under the name Ladd Cellars from exceptional vineyards in the North Coast and Sierra Foothills. His aim has been to produce Old-World-style wines that age well and release them later, so that we can enjoy them with some age in bottle. Eric’s Sonoma Coast Chardonnay comes from a vineyard south of Sebastopol owned by Dutton Ranch. The block he chose back in 2014 was surrounded by trees, creating cooler growing conditions for the grapes. The vines were 45-50 years old then, which is pretty old for California chardonnay! This vintage of this wine was Eric’s first chardonnay, and it inspired him to devote more of his effort to the variety, both in future vintages from this vineyard as well as from other vineyards. This wine underwent indigenous fermentation and then two years of aging in used barrels.  At first sniff, it is hard to believe that this is 11-year-old chardonnay. The nose is clean and bright, with fresh orchard fruits and only a hint of tertiary (i.e.,