2020 Ferren Wines Chardonnay Volpert Vineyard

The 2020 Chardonnay Volpert Vineyard comes from west-facing vines planted in 2015 at 500 feet in elevation in Western Sonoma, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Matured for 12 months in 33% new oak and six months in stainless steel, it's youthfully toasty at this stage and takes a lot of time to open tones of lemon cream, lime peel and white pepper. The light-bodied palate pairs electric acidity with a creamy texture and concentrated but still youthfully coiled flavors. Give it an hour or two in a decanter. Just 48 cases were made.

The 2020 Chardonnay Volpert Vineyard is the most elegant wine in this range, and by good measure. Silky, beautifully textured and full of nuance, the Volpert Chardonnay is quite frankly a revelation. All the elements are so well balanced. Apricot, tangerine oil, exotic white flowers and a touch of spice open over time, but it is the wine's overall balance that is most impressive.

Floral and savory aromas lift from the 2020 Chardonnay Volpert Vineyard, including rosemary, white pepper, and apricot. Fresh and ripe with fresh flowers and yellow apples, it has a chalky and slightly pithy texture, with a hint of green almond on its clean finish. Drink 2023-2030. Founded by winemaker Matt Courtney and his longtime friend David Wherritt, Ferren focuses on single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the far Sonoma Coast. They had initially set out to be a Pinot Noir house, but they now produce an equal amount of Chardonnay, and the wines do not disappoint. The whites are textural, balanced, and highly expressive across the board.