The temperate 2021 growing season let us hang our old chardonnay vineyards until mid to late September, giving us excellent ripeness without sacrificing acidity. The great combination of bright and lush comes through right away in the nose, which leads with a bouquet of white spring flowers surrounding the core of lemon zest. Pear, green apple, and kiwi provide supporting fruit notes. In the mouth, the crisp and opulent theme continues, with lemon curd and creamy pear lifted with a lime zest finish. A little oyster shell minerality on the finish reminds you of the Sonoma Coast just to the west, and also of delicious shellfish pairings. Try it with our local Dungeness crab, Tomales Bay oysters Rockefeller, or a creamy clam chowder. Valley Ford's Estero Gold Reserve cheese is a great match, as is a cave-aged gruyere.