2021 Marine Layer Aries Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, California, USA

Tasting note

The 2021 Chardonnay Aries is gorgeous. Bright and floral, with terrific depth, the Aries is seriously impressive. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, chalk and white pepper lend notable aromatic brilliance. Vineyard sites are Charles Heinz, Gaps Crown, Durrell and the Estate, which is pretty impressive at this level.

Our thoughts

Marine Layer refers to the blanket of fog that drifts in from the Pacific along the Sonoma Coast, yielding cooler temperatures that lead to longer hang-time in the vineyard and, in turn, more nuanced flavours and pronounced acidity in the bottle. Such conditions are expertly harnessed in this bijou, single-vineyard production, with hand-harvesting at night yielding a taut, nervy style of Chardonnay that nonetheless carries complexity and structure, furthered by almost a year in 25% new oak and regular lees stirring. Just 1,200 bottles are made – and we’re thrilled to have secured 300 of them.