96 Wine & Spirits

"Jason Jardine’s team at Flowers farms 21 acres of chardonnay on the crest of Camp Meeting Ridge, the elevations rising from 1,150 to 1,400 feet on the far Sonoma coast. The soils are based on uplifts from the Pacific seabed, pushed up by movements along the San Andreas Fault; the underground is mostly schist, shale and sandstone. The oldest vines on the property were planted by Walt and Joan Flowers in 1991. When Jardine arrived in 2010, he began to implement biodynamic practices to strengthen the expression of the place in the wine and this 2011 takes Camp Meeting Ridge to a new level. It captures the ocean mist in a savory, earthen chardonnay, its mellow richness transforming fine lees, lemon and smoky green tea scents into a harmonious wine that’s easy to drink in quantity and still delivers a lot of flavor. The acidity itself is flavorful and persistent, adding to the umami depth. Wrap yourself in a blanket on a beach night in Jenner and this wine will keep you warm."