The name “Moonmilk” puts you in the right mind for the aroma of this wine, which has a dairy-like quality, something like tangy plain yogurt. Look for sour pineapple and sweet sage notes, and don’t mind the spritziness that the wine shows when you pour the first glass. In other words, this effort by winemaker James Jelks is nothing like the stereotypical buttery California Chardonnay you might be used to. Organic.
We love it with… 🍣🧀🍳
Type: White
Vintage: 2019
Size: 750 mL
ABV:
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
Vinification: This cuvee is made with grapes from 1 of the 2 vineyards I personally farm organically in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Blue Jay Vineyard is south-facing, has sandy loam soils, and was planted back in the ‘70s with Chardonnay. Most of the original vines have died off by now and we have recently been replanting with lesser-known French varietals such as Gamay and Savagnin. Harvested in 2019, the grapes for this wine were made as a separate chardonnay from the usual Moonmilk. After being foot-treaded and left to sit overnight, the grapes were pressed and barrel fermented with native yeasts and left sur lie for 10 months before being racked and bottled. Unfined, unifltered and no ameliorations save 20 ppm of SO2 at bottling.