Radio-Coteau Anderson Valley Savoy Chardonnay 2019
I was initially drawn to these wines as I recognised the Savoy Vineyard name on the label. My favourite American Pinot producer, Littorai, also takes fruit from this site, so I was fascinated to make the comparison. To my pleasure, both the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir really impressed me. They’re both quite hedonistic in a way, but without going too far. Great fruit concentration and reasonably generous without excessive flabbiness or fruit sweetness. Simple delicious wines to drink with plenty of complexity built in. – Ches Cook, FWC.
The Savoy Vineyard in the Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, has established a firm reputation for producing some of the north coast’s most exceptional cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The 18-hectare, southwest-facing site lies 120 kilometres northwest of the Radio-Coteau estate. Sussman has a per-acre contract and pays a premium for his fruit, so he may retain control over how those acres are managed viticulturally. Low yields, green harvesting and organic farming are a few of Sussman’s requirements.
Like the rest of the Anderson Valley, Savoy enjoys a very pronounced diurnal range—night-time drops in temperature can be as much as 25 degrees Celsius—which brings the signature tension of Anderson Valley alongside flavour ripeness in both the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. While a who’s-who of the Sonoma wine scene source Pinot Noir from this vineyard, there are just over two hectares planted to Chardonnay, going only to Fel Wines and Radio-Coteau.
Sussman works with two Chardonnay clones within the Savoy site; the Wente clone vines (70%) have small clusters and berries and quite a mineral profile, while the Prosser clone (30%) lends a more tropical fruit profile to the blend. The fruit was picked in late August and was whole-bunch pressed into barrel for wild fermentation. It went through full malo and enjoyed a 17-month élevage on lees with no bâtonnage in 20% new, lightly toasted, tightly-grained French oak. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration.
Compared to the Wingtine, the style is more in the classic Californian vein; richer, with a creamier feel, yet supported by mouth-watering acidity. - Producer's Notes.
“The 2019 Chardonnay Savoy is absolutely gorgeous. In this vintage, the balance seems more driven by brightness and acids than by the open-knit textures that are often found at in this Anderson Valley site. Dried flowers, chamomile, mint and lemon peel linger.” 92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
