DuMOL 2023 "Estate" Chardonnay,Sonoma Coast

97 Points                                                          

DuMOL make some of the best and most sought-after Chardonnays in California. Limited.

97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The higher elevation cousin to the Bressay, the 2023 Chardonnay DuMol Estate comes from a two-acre section of the vineyard planted to the Mt. Eden clone of Chardonnay. From this protected, tree-shaded site with high-density spacing (which ripens about a week later), the wine displays a bright yellow color and offers a wonderful, focused drive on the nose, with notes of fresh ginger, fresh apples, lime, and saline. It has a compact core with good density, although it ultimately showcases its more cool-vintage character with its vibrant energy and persistent length. Drink 2025-2037...

...Late last year, Andy Smith handed over the winemaking portion of his title to Jenna Davis. Jenna has been with the winery for over ten years, joining as a harvest intern in 2014 and working up to assistant winemaker. Andy retains his roles as partner and winegrower at DuMOL but was ready to pass the torch to the next generation in the winery’s legacy. The 2023s for this report were tasted in Sonoma with Andy and Jenna, as they have been for all three years of my coverage. Earning top marks for what this vintage has to offer, across the range the wines capture freshness and retain the focused concentration that gives them serious potential for longevity."

96 Points Vinous: "The DuMOL 2023 Chardonnay DuMOL Estate Vineyard is elegant, lifted and classy. Floral overtones and bright, citrus-driven fruit are so alive. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural richness and resonance. The 2023 is impeccable. I can't wait to taste it from bottle."

Winemaker Notes: The DuMol 2023 Wester Reach Chardonnay Russian River Valley has great lines: focused, driven, mineral-laden and pithy, with a level of cool-climate fruit intensity that is very rare. This level of quality and distinctive character is hard to achieve in a larger-production blended wine, but is a testament to our pedigreed vineyards, precise farming, twenty years’ experience, and patient, sensitive craftsmanship.