“marena” Chardonnay 2021

Ceritas Vintage 2021 Bottle Sizes 750ml Country United States Region California Appellation Sonoma Coast Wine Type White - Still Varietals Chardonnay Farming Organic Vineyard Fruit for the "marena" Chardonnay is sourced from Porter-Bass Vineyard and Charles Heintz Vineyard. Porter-Bass Vineyard is perched like a saddle between ridgelines in Pocket Canyon, the site is the beneficiary of cooling morning and afternoon fog, which rolls in reliably from the ocean. Shale and fractured sandstone soils are well suited to the Chardonnay planted in 1980 to the Old Wente Clone, followed in 2001 by Pinot Noir plantings of Swan and Calera clones. The vineyard is farmed biodynamically, with our blocks located on the north facing side, allowing for an extended growing season. Charles Heintz Vineyard lies east of the town of Occidental. Charlie’s grandparents purchased the Heintz Ranch a century ago in 1912. The vineyard thrived until Prohibition. The vineyard sits just above the fog line, offering abundant sunshine with cool ocean breezes. In 1980, with the assistance of winegrowing pioneer Warren Dutton, Charlie planted Chardonnay. The vines are now over 30 years old. Soil Goldridge sandy loam soils Viticulture Vineyards are farmed organically and no irrigation is used. Vinification Whole cluster crushed and pressed, juice pumped into tank and to settle before being barreled down. Racked into neutral barrels. Fermentation happens in barrel in a room of 65-70 to entice natural fermentation and then moved to cellar, around 50 degrees, to allow slow fermentation. Aging Aged 10 months in neutral French barrels. Racked with light lees to stainless steel for an additional 6 months of aging. Notes "'marena' embodies what is so amazing about West Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. A blend of a few different sites allows for a multi-layered wine. Sites closer to the ocean deliver the minerality and snap while sites moved in a bit more deliver purity of fruit and depth of flavor. This is the wine you will want to drink while you wait for the others to come into their own." - John Raytek