2018 Pfendler Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($45)

This 100% Chardonnay comes from Pfendler Vineyards which is located in the hillsides of Sonoma Mountain in the Sonoma Coast region.

The Petaluma Gap is sub-region of the Sonoma Coast that has its own unique terroir.

This Pfendler Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed, allowed to settle overnight before being racked off the heavy lees into barrels for native fermentation on its fine lees. It then undergoes light stirring while undergoing malolactic conversion. It is aged 14 months in 50% new French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

This winemaking process leads to this Chardonnay having unique flavors of peach compote, nectarine, green apple and lime. There also seems to be hints of straw and minerality along with just a bit of acidity on the finish.

This is a very limited production Chardonnay from Pfendler (250 cases). So, look carefully for this one and enjoy. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this wine at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Anika Crone, Jarvis Communications

2016 MacPhail The Flyer Pinot Noir ($50)

If you love Pinot Noir, this one is for you! It’s got wonderfully delicate flavors of red cherry and raspberry, very easy tannin and a melt in your mouth finish.

MacPhail wines are a collaboration between Tim and Sabrina Persson, 5th generation Hess Family, and well-known Winemaker Matt Courtney.

These amazing Pinot Noir grapes are from the Sangiacomo Lakeville Vineyards in the Petaluma Gap region of the Sonoma Coast.

Produced from the 777 and 23 clones of Pinot Noir, these hand-picked grapes are 100% de-stemmed, undergo 100% Native Fermentation and spend 11 months in 100% French oak with 30% of it being new oak. The unfined and unfiltered wine was directly bottled.

As Winemaker Matt Courtney says, this wine has “…provocative layers of black fruits - specifically dried cherries and black raspberries that are supported by beautiful acidity and silky tannins. A hint of vanilla oak sweetness shows through a lengthy and persistent finish.” I can’t agree more! As a Sonoma Pinot lover, this one’s tops! The Flyer is not to be missed. It’s super!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this wine at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White of Donna White Communications