Wayfarer 2022 WF2 Chardonnay

Nestled within the rugged, wind-swept terrain of the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, the Wayfarer 2022 WF2 Chardonnay is a striking testament to the power of place, a wine that balances the exuberance of a warm harvest with the restraint and elegance of a cool growing season. From the first pour, its aromatics captivate—lively notes of fresh apricot, nectarine, and fragrant orange blossom rise from the glass, underscored by a delicate hint of honeysuckle. The interplay between the luscious stone fruit tones and the ethereal floral nuances speaks to the climatic duality that shaped this vintage, a growing season that saw both tempered coolness and late-season warmth.

On the palate, this Chardonnay is a study in tension and precision. Waves of white peach and tamarind unfold with seamless grace, their succulent richness counterpointed by a flinty, linear minerality that speaks to the vineyard’s extreme coastal terroir. The purity of fruit is striking, each note rendered with remarkable clarity, while an energetic acidity lends a thrilling freshness, ensuring the wine remains vibrant and lifted. The mouthfeel is polished and refined, its texture subtly enhanced by ten months of sur lie aging in 24% new French oak, a regimen that imparts just a whisper of structure without overshadowing the wine’s inherent brightness.

The 2022 growing season at Wayfarer Vineyard was marked by early budbreak, a cool mid-season, and a harvest defined by significant diurnal shifts—warm days ripening the fruit while plunging nighttime temperatures preserved acidity and freshness. The cumulative effect was a remarkably low-yielding vintage, with Chardonnay production slashed by 50%, resulting in a wine of profound concentration and layered complexity. Every sip unfolds with a balance of opulence and restraint, a testament to the meticulous viticulture and deft winemaking that define Wayfarer’s approach.

A barrel-by-barrel deselection of the estate’s finest lots, the WF2 Chardonnay offers an exceptional value while maintaining the pedigree of its single-vineyard origins. It is a wine that will delight upon release yet possesses the structure and verve to evolve beautifully over the next five to seven years. Whether enjoyed in its youthful radiance or savored at full maturity, the Wayfarer 2022 WF2 Chardonnay stands as a compelling expression of Sonoma Coast terroir—a wine of purity, elegance, and undeniable allure.

Alcohol: 14.5%

The grapes were hand-picked in the cool night hours, then hand-sorted at the winery. The fruit was gently whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented with native yeast, employing limited battonage during malolactic fermentation. The wine aged sur lie for 10 months in 24% new French oak barrels.

Lively aromatics leap from the glass with notes of fresh apricot, nectarine, orange blossom and honeysuckle. While the delicate white flower aromas are indicative of a cooler growing season, the luscious stone fruit tones reflect the warm harvest weather in 2022. Flavors of white peach and tamarind fill the mouth, complemented by flinty, linear minerality and exciting freshness. Polished and pure on the palate, this wine finishes with impressive length.