95 Points -
"Taking a darker and savory tone aromatically, the 2021 Chardonnay Fog Dance Vineyard is a youthful yellow with a tinge of silver and lifts with notes of salty earth, hay, lime leaf, and mango skin aromas. This medium-bodied Chardonnay is ripe up front, with juicy melon followed by a nice spine of lemon-lime citrus on the finish and a more persistent sense of acidity." — Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com, July 2023
Tasting Notes
The 2021 Fog Dance Chardonnay displays bright aromas of citrus oil, peach pit, and orange blossom. The flavors of mandarin orange, white peach, and preserved lemon meld together with a mineral-driven finish, reflecting in cool Green Valley terroir.
Historic Acclaim
2021: 95 points, jebdunnuck.com, July 2023
2019: 96 points, Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast, July 2022
2019: 94 points, jebdunnuck.com, August 2022
2019: 94 points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, July 2022
2018: 95 points Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com July 2021
2018: 94+ points Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, January 2021
2017: 96 Points, Wine Enthusiast, July 2020
2017: 94 points Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com June 2020
2016: 97 points Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com June 2019
2016: 95 Points Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, October 2018
2015: 96 points Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com June 2018
2014: 93-95 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, October 2015
2014: 90-92 points Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2016
2013: 92-94 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, December 2014
2013: 90-92 points Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2015
2013: 90 points The Wine Spectator
2012: 92-94 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2012: 92 points Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2014
2012: 90 points The Wine Spectator
2012: 90-92 points Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2014
2011: 92-93 points Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2013
2011: 90-92 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, April 2013
2011: 93 points Wine Enthusiast Online
2010: 92 points Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2012
2010: 90-92 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, December 2011
2009: 92 points Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2011
2009: 92 points The Wine Spectator
2009: 92-94 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, February 2011
Vineyard & Vintage Character
The Fog Dance Vineyard Chardonnay is sourced from our estate-owned, organically farmed vineyard in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley AVA. This stunningly beautiful vineyard was planted in 1998 with Dijon Chardonnay clone 96 and ENTAV 809 on Goldridge fine sandy loam—a combination of decomposed sandstone and volcanic ash—and soil that’s highly prized by winemakers in this region.
This wine is among our small production, single-vineyard wines, and is named for the dance performed by the Pacific fog that drifts through the vineyards and back again to the sea each day. This wine reflects its cool Green Valley terroir, showing fresh fruit brightness and amazing transparency along with a refined, mineral-driven texture.
Wine Details
Oak: 100% French oak, 13% new
Time in oak: 14 months
TA: 5.3 g/L
pH: 3.19
Alcohol: 14.4%
Cases produced: 300
Unfined and unfiltered