Chardonnay comes in many shapes and sizes and the style of the wine reflects not only the location where it is grown but also the goal of the winemaker. When we started, we were in our twenties and untethered and could have gone anywhere to plant a vineyard. We chose to grow Chardonnay on this piece of land on purpose. We knew the cool temperatures would keep tropical flavors at bay and allow the more citrus and mineral qualities of the variety to sing.
We planted 7 Old Wente and Dijon clonal selections of Chardonnay on 7 of the chilliest acres in the vineyard. Regardless of clone, our Chardonnays have a distinct signature that can best be described as a combination of chalky, citrus, apple and pear notes combined with vibrant energy from the brisk acidity. These are not rich, buttery and fat wines.

We make three Chardonnay. As with our Pinot noir and Syrah, we first make the Estate blend blind of production information (# of cases, % new oak, etc.) and select what we feel best represents Peay Chardonnay in that vintage. The remaining barrels are blended with a few barrels we make from a vineyard in the southern portion of the West Sonoma Coast and make the Sonoma Coast. In exceptional vintages, we also make 50 cases of a tête de cuvée named Elanus.

Vanessa cut her teeth as winemaker at Peter Michael Winery in the 1990s. It was there that she learned the craft of making superior Chardonnay from various sites with distinct personalities. She has adapted her approach to suit our cooler site and makes some of the most compelling expressions of Chardonnay in the U.S.

Sonoma Coast
Though we select the barrels for the Estate Chardonnay first, the Sonoma Coast is not an after-thought, or even a lesser wine. Regional wines – what we refer to here as AVA wines – are usually composites from grapes grown at many sites within an AVA. That is the case for the Peay Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, too. Over 75% of the blend, however, comes from our Estate Vineyard and is farmed to the same exacting standards. The remaining quarter (just a few tons) comes from the Searby Vineyard in the southern portion of the West Sonoma Coast near Occidental. Searby is one of the most highly sought-after vineyards for vineyard-designate Chardonnay in Sonoma County. As it is a touch warmer in Occidental, that portion of the blend offers a little more richness and silkiness while the structure and fruit profile of the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is very much one of a Peay Estate Chardonnay and has a similar intensity and complexity.

Wine description
The nose has a flinty aroma with a whiff of smoke and wet stone. The mouth is well-proportioned and has a creamy texture with some pear and crème brulèe notes. The acidity is very bright and the aroma of slate lingers on the long finish. You can enjoy it on release or age it for 3+ years for secondary flavors of wax and nuttiness to develop.

Region United States

California

North Coast Sonoma County

Sonoma Coast