Mary Katherine Vineyard stretches to the summit of the property, at 850 feet elevation on a steep terrace with an ocean view. The vineyard is evenly split between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This wine comes from the Robert Young and Wente clones of Chardonnay and is named for vintner/winegrower Richard’s wife and partner of 40 years.
The grapes were whole cluster pressed directly into 500L puncheons, where fermentation occurred. During the aging process, the wine was routinely stirred and underwent complete malo-lactic fermentation. After 8 months of barrel age, the wine was racked, blended, settled, and then bottled by gravity, without fining or filtration.
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "Puncheon and barrel-fermented, the 2023 Chardonnay Mary Katherine Vineyard is lifted and textural, sourced from mostly Robert Young clone. Winemaker Ryan Alfaro in 2020 started to move his barrel ferments to puncheon to keep the ferments from getting too hot. Sleek with salinity, it offers subtle tropical fruit and is a little more ripe and fleshy than the Trout Gulch, with so much length and breadth across its medium-bodied frame. Given nine months in 25% new wood, it's another delicious white from Alfaro. Drink now through 2040."
The grapes were whole cluster pressed directly into 500L puncheons, where fermentation occurred. During the aging process, the wine was routinely stirred and underwent complete malo-lactic fermentation. After 8 months of barrel age, the wine was racked, blended, settled, and then bottled by gravity, without fining or filtration.
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "Puncheon and barrel-fermented, the 2023 Chardonnay Mary Katherine Vineyard is lifted and textural, sourced from mostly Robert Young clone. Winemaker Ryan Alfaro in 2020 started to move his barrel ferments to puncheon to keep the ferments from getting too hot. Sleek with salinity, it offers subtle tropical fruit and is a little more ripe and fleshy than the Trout Gulch, with so much length and breadth across its medium-bodied frame. Given nine months in 25% new wood, it's another delicious white from Alfaro. Drink now through 2040."
