2023 Perli Vineyard Chardonnay

Tucked into the fog-shrouded ridgelines of the Mendocino Coast at 1800 feet elevation, Perli Vineyard is dramatic in every sense — steep, remote, and sculpted by ocean winds. Though it sits just north of the Sonoma Coast boundary, the vineyard’s soils, elevation, and exposure place it squarely among the most distinctive coastal Chardonnay sites in California.

The 2023 vintage channels all of that rugged character into a wine of laser-like precision and coastal energy. Aromatics lean into savory territory at first — a wisp of struck match, sea spray, and grilled citrus peel — before revealing notes of white peach, lemon balm, and crème fraîche. The palate is chiseled and mineral, carried by taut acidity and a cool-toned citrus profile. A touch of texture from lees aging gives the wine just enough roundness to balance its linear core.

Bright, structured, and full of tension, the 2023 Perli Chardonnay is a high-wire act of intensity and restraint, with years of evolution ahead. Peak drinking window: 2026 through 2032