2023 Peay Vineyards Elanus Estate Chardonnay, West Sonoma Coast
Every Sunday I roast a whole chicken for family dinner. After an overnight brine, I usually let the chicken rest in the fridge in a curry rub (vadouvan, my favorite) and roast it with garlic, thyme sprigs, and lemon wedges. That is the cornucopia of aromas that leapt out of the glass when I first smelled this wine. As it opened up, salty oyster and parmesan rind characteristics emerged. I literally started to salivate just smelling it. As I took a sip, the aromas above carried through on the palate with a little marzipan and almond brioche notes entering the silky mid palate. After swallowing, a salty, almost beeswax quality lingered in the long after taste. I reluctantly put the cork back in the bottle (it was 10 a.m.) and started to plan what I could cook for a Friday evening dinner to go with that amazing Chardonnay. Pork chops? Cod? Thanksgiving dinner? Yes.
The 2023 growing season was quite moderate, uneventful, and cool, especially during the all-important fall months when grape skins are accumulating flavor and nuance. This allowed our grapes to slowly reach maturity and capture the complex character and essence of our vineyard. The results are these astonishing wines. They are flavorful, yet elegant. They have depth and persistence but remain energetic and light on their feet. They are delicious now and will be for decades to come. The 2023 Elanus wines sit at the summit of what we hope to achieve in our gamble out on the coast and are very worthy of your consideration.