UV-SL Chardonnay 2024 Aubert

Tasting Note UV-SL Chardonnay 2024

Initial aromas of yellow peach and lemon oil give way to more limestone-like nuances, along with toasty and nutty notes from barrel aging. The palate is rich and expansive, characteristic of Aubert, but the acidity of the 2024 vintage cuts cleanly through the center, preventing it from becoming too heavy. The finish is long and carries a subtle saltiness. While it can be enjoyed now, given its structure, it is expected to become even more interesting with age.

Grape Varieties

Chardonnay, 100% and made exclusively from UV-SL Vineyard and Sonoma Coast.

No blending partners or grapes from other vineyard plots are used at all. Chardonnay is known for its neutral flavor profile, which is the very essence of this wine. It expresses the characteristics of the soil in which UV-SL is planted and the unique qualities of its rare clones without masking them.

Cellaring Potential

Enjoy it through 2042. The acidity born of the cool nights of 2024 is what gives this wine its character. Serve at a temperature of 10-13 °C. Chilling it any further will cause it to lose its texture. For younger vintages, it is best to let the wine breathe in a decanter for about 30 minutes.

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

The water source for Cold Pacific lies at the foot of Sonoma Coast, and the fog rising from there spreads deep into the interior from summer through early fall. This reduces sunlight exposure, slows ripening, and preserves acidity, precisely the conditions required for Chardonnay. UV-SL adds unique elements such as the soil, the orientation of the plot, and the rare clones planted there. Together, these factors give the wine not just a monotonous fruitiness, but a rich, multi-layered character.

Winemaking

With Aubert, everything comes down to choosing the right timing. Harvesting, pressing, and barrel aging are scheduled with minute-by-minute precision, based on the philosophy of prioritizing the right moment over convenience. Subsequently, UV-SL Chardonnay is bottled without fining or filtration, so it appears slightly cloudy when poured into a glass. You can detect distinct notes of oak and maturity, both of which stand out prominently.

Food Pairing

Thanks to its exquisite balance of body and acidity, this wine pairs exceptionally well with butter and heavy cream.

• Roast: Chicken (pan-seared with sauce, skin crispy)
• Dungeness: Crab (preservative-free, served with melted butter)
• Lobster Risotto. The wine's richness harmonizes with the rice
• Grilled Lemon-flavored halibut

The acidity refreshes the palate between each bite of rich, fatty dishes.