Eastside Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 Aubert

Tasting Note Eastside Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

Aromas of lemon and grapefruit are the first to emerge, followed by notes of crushed stone and a subtle hint of toasted hazelnut from the oak barrels. On the palate, Eastside Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 is full-bodied with a firm structure. It is characterized by ripe citrus notes, a chalky yet almost salty edge, and a crisp acidity that leads to a long finish. While the oak notes are distinctly present, they never take center stage. It is ready to drink now upon exposure to air, but given its structure, it is best to let it age in the cellar.

Grape Varieties

Eastside Vineyard Chardonnay is a single-varietal wine. The Chardonnay ia a rare clone selected specifically for this low-vigour slope, prioritizing intense citrus flavors, a stony texture, and a solid foundation of acidity over volume.

Cellaring Potential

It is best enjoyed through 2042. The combination of acidity and the concentration from small clusters gives the Eastside Vineyard Chardonnay 2024 a solid structure. Serve at 10-13°C, cool but not too cold, and let young wines breathe in a decanter for about 30 minutes. As it ages, the citrus notes evolve into hints of honey and hazelnut.

About Aubert

In a valley where Cabernet Sauvignon rules, Mark Aubert went the other way. Chardonnay is the reason the winery exists, and most of the fruit comes from Sonoma County rather than Napa, because that is where California's best Chardonnay sites sit. Lauren, planted in 2000 and named after his daughter, covers roughly 3.2 hectares, small enough to walk in an afternoon. Sugar Shack sits in Napa, Larry Hyde and Sons in Carneros, and the Sonoma Coast feeds several bottlings including CIX. Pinot Noir gets the same care, though it stays a small share of production. Style is not shy: clear oak, rich texture, alcohol that can reach 15%. But every vineyard is kept separate and bottled on its own, Burgundy logic applied to California ripeness. Aubert built all this without corporate backing, and demand outruns the tiny volumes.

Terroir & Climate

Eastside is situated on a hill rising above the sweeping landscape of the Russian River Valley; the shallow, cobbled soil here is among the least fertile of the land cultivated by Mark Aubert. The rock-strewn slopes restrict the vines' growth, causing them to produce small, concentrated clusters. Mornings are misty and cool, while afternoons are warm and clear; thanks to these temperature fluctuations, Eastside Vineyard Chardonnay ripens fully while retaining its acidity. In the glass, it has a texture as firm as stone.

Winemaking

The key to this wine lies in its oak barrel fermentation. The grapes are hand-harvested and sorted, then gently pressed; the juice is placed in French oak barrels, where fermentation and natural malolactic fermentation (the process by which sharp malic acid is converted into mellow lactic acid) take place. It is aged in these oak barrels for 10 to 12 months, developing a creamy flavor profile. Because the processing is kept to a minimum, Eastside Vineyard Chardonnay often exhibits a slight cloudiness. This is harmless and indicates that almost no unnecessary components have been removed from the wine.

Food Pairing

Balance of Flavor and Acidity: This Chardonnay pairs well with buttery and creamy flavors without feeling heavy.

• Roast chicken with tarragon; the crispy skin and fat harmonize with the wine's texture
• Dungeness crab with melted butter
• Halibut in beurre blanc
• Aged Comté: Its nutty flavor beautifully complements the oak notes

It also pairs well with grilled scallops, as its steely acidity perfectly balances the scallops' sweetness.