Long Meadow Ranch Chardonnay 2016

“bouquet of fruit tied together by salty, mineral notes”

Jackson’s Notes: 

We have both medium and small-sized California producers in this release. The Cabernet from Laura Brennan-Bissell’s Inconnu project represents the hand-crafted and limited end of the spectrum, and this Long Meadow Ranch Chardonnay represents another, equally important side of the California wine industry. Medium to large sized producers who are doing it right. Once you’ve reached a certain level of market presence and customer satisfaction, you almost don’t need to evolve or change. 

But some producers like Long Meadow Ranch choose the more difficult road by converting to organics in their farming. They have power to make an impact, and do so! To me, that’s one of the most impressive things. When a producer with five acres converts to organics, it’s great. But when one with five hundred acres does it, that’s a significant impact on the environment, and the health of rivers, communities, and people. Long Meadow Ranch has multiple properties scattered throughout Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino’s Anderson Valley.

This Chardonnay is grown in Anderson Valley, and illustrates the power of a cool, balanced climate in making Chardonnay. This wine has fruit, acidity, and texture in equal measures. Mendocino is close to the ocean, and so receives a large measure of cool breeze and fog, which helps slow down the ripening process. It happens to be made by Stéphane Vivier, a Frenchman who spent his formative years in Burgundy. He currently makes wine for Hyde de Villaine in Napa and a variety of other projects, of which Long Meadow Ranch is one.

I love this Chardonnay because it’s unmistakably California with its ripe quince, yellow apple and pineapple fruit. But it doesn’t veer into overripeness or gaudiness. Instead this bouquet of fruit is tied together by salty, mineral notes and a pleasant carriage of firm acidity. This is one of those wines that you might not know was made in California unless it was firmly printed on the label.

Winemaker Stéphane Vivier’s Notes: “The aromatics are exotic and the palate possesses minerality with a burgeoning richness. Youthful and pale green in color, the flavors are complex, revealing floral, pear, and lemon notes. A lovely mineral core and crystallized fruit, with a long, energetic finish. Very enjoyable now but will age gracefully for at least a decade.”