Gemstone Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Facets 2023 NO20230927 Hand-harvested in late October

Hand-harvested in late October

savory spice

The wine is bright and transparent

a century-old estate based in the Jura village of L'Etoile (so named for the prodigious amount of star-shaped fossils in the soils

Deep garnet with brick highlights

Gemstone Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Facets 2023 NO20230927 Hand-harvested in late OctoberFacets is Yountville's Gemstone Vineyard going outside the home estate, with Julien Fayard sourcing premier fruit from across Napa and Sonoma. For the Chardonnay, he turns to the Sonoma Coast, where cool Pacific air keeps acidity tight and lets the fruit stay nervy. The style is California generous but not flabby: subtle toasty oak frames orchard fruit, citrus, and a chalky finish. A confident, well made Chardonnay from a Bordeaux trained hand.