Snappy, bright cherry and raspberry pre-breathing soon turns to summer-ripe red cherries and raspberries, cherry liqueur, black truffle, black tea, dried red rose petals and minerally earthiness. The wine gets richer and more layered as the wine hangs out in the glass…gets better over 5+ hours of ample air exposure. Medium bodied, high intensity, youthful tannins…at 13.5% alcohol the balance of ripeness, acidity and alcohol is spot-on. Great now with lots of breathing time, but it will drink at its very best, I’m guessing, around 2025.
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Winemaker/Co-Owner Ashley Holland crafts tiny amounts of Pinot Noir, Riesling (both from Anderson Valley) and this Chardonnay from the mystical “Peter Martin Ray Vineyard” overlooking the Silicon Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Ashley’s resume includes winemaking and production at Three Sticks and Pax. Amongst her many current jobs and obligations, she is the winemaker for West + Wilder, the leader in producing exceptional wine in cans.