Winemaker Notes

Riesling will always be the heart of Forge, but with the freedom to work as we please, introducing another noble white variety to our repertoire has been exciting. The opportunity to work with some of Charles Fournier’s original Chardonnay plantings was certainly fortuitous. Since the early days, we’ve maintained an openness to the possibility of producing a Chardonnay with the stipulation that all conditions must be perfect: site, clones, age of vines, etc. In our eleventh vintage, the stars aligned.

There is no question that our Caywood Vineyard has a sparkle to it, a standout in our lineup with Grand Cru distinction. With exceptional freshness vis-à-vis herbs such as thyme, basil, wild carrot, this Chardonnay has a skilled ability to translate a sense of depth from mature vines alongside impeccable lift and vibrancy.