2019 Florez Wines ‘Moonmilk’ Chardonnay ‘Gold Top’ Santa Cruz Mountains, USA

Winemaker James Jelks: This cuvee is made with grapes from 1 of the 2 vineyards I personally farm organically in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Blue Jay Vineyard is south-facing, has sandy loam soils, and was planted back in the 70s with Chardonnay. Most of the original vines have died off by now and we have recently been replanting with lesser-known French varietals such as Gamay and Savagnin. Harvested in 2019, the grapes for this wine were made as a separate chardonnay from the usual Moonmilk. After being foot-treaded and left to sit overnight, the grapes were pressed and barrel fermented with native yeasts and left sur lie for 10 months before being racked and bottled. Unfined, unifltered and no ameliorations save 20 ppm of SO2 at bottling.