93pts Vinous

The 2021 Chardonnay Cahill Lane Vineyard is bright and floral, with pretty tropical accents that add an exotic flair. Soft contours give this mid-weight, open-knit Chardonnay tons of immediacy. Wente clone on heavy clay yields a Chardonnay of notable texture. There is a touch of reduction, but not to the point of being intrusive.

93pts Jeb Dunnuck

A savory profile emerges from the 2021 Chardonnay Cahill Lane Vineyard, which pours a bright yellow hue and opens to notes of peach puree, white pepper, toasted vanilla, and salted grapefruit. Fleshy and inviting, with more characteristic mid-palate richness and a toasty finish.

Winemaker Notes

This vineyard block is 100% Wente clone consisting of "chicken and eggs"; that is, large and tiny berries packed together in each cluster. This is usually the last block to be harvested so it derives much of its richness from an extended hang time.

Winery Notes

My father, Walter, loved to grow everything from kiwi to oriental pears and more. In the 1970's he enlisted my help to plant 257 chardonnay vines. Throughout the 1980's our entire family would harvest the half acre of grapes and my father and I would make the wine; filling two barrels, which equaled 50 cases of wine. Initially these wines were hard to drink, but with the help of my friend, Tom Rochioli, I developed a passion to understand everything about the vineyards and the process of making wine. This passion influenced my quest for growing World-class wines. Since our first commercial vintage in 1996, I have learned with every harvest that you must listen to vine; react to Mother Nature and ALWAYS compromise quantity for quality.