2021 Ceritas Chardonnay Heintz Vineyard

A pale straw, the 2021 Chardonnay Charles Heintz has beautiful aromatics, including notes of pure green apple, Meyer lemon, and green tea. Medium to full-bodied, with superb balance, this wine is incredibly long, with its mineral texture coating the entire palate along with notes of citrus oils, fresh green pear, and rocky earth. This is my favorite of the wines presented by Ceritas. Drink over the next 15 years. Helmed by founder John Raytek, Ceritas was established with their first vintage in 2005. Today, 14 wines are produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all from dry-farmed historical sites poised to channel the style the team wants to create. Each of the sites is farmed organically or biodynamically. Initially focusing solely on what is now the West Sonoma Coast, in 2011 they expanded their reach to the Santa Cruz Mountains, and most recently to Moon Mountain and Napa. In 2015, they moved into a new barrel room in Healdsburg, where they operate today. Having no investors or partners in the project allowed John and his team to experiment and only bottle wines they wished to produce. From a winemaking perspective, they strive for minimal intervention in the cellar. Their oak selections are sourced from two coopers and utilize a light toast from selections with a tight grain. The wines express a pure, focused style that will appeal to those who seek tension and precision. Recent news from the estate includes the acquisition of key Chardonnay holdings in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, which I eagerly anticipate. Additionally, the public can now visit the winery in the heart of Healdsburg for tastings by appointment via their website.