Far Mountain
Bresa Chardonnay 2019
Sonoma Valley
Far Mountain Bresa Chardonnay is a white of substance, grown from the oldest block of Bald Mountain Vineyard, planted in 1972 with Wente clones on fractured volcanic rock. This single-parcel, dry-farmed site yields just one barrel, producing a wine of depth, tension, and dazzling clarity. Far Mountain is rooted in the belief that the most profound wines come from remote mountain sites in Sonoma. Their growers have taken decades of risk, and the winery channels that drama into wines of energy, texture, and endless fascination.
VINEYARD
Bresa is a true reflection of its terroir. Bald Mountain is one of the few dry-farmed Chardonnay vineyards in California, planted in 1972 at an elevation of 1,800 feet—the vineyard’s highest point—on St. George rootstock. The combination of elevation, vine age, and rocky terrain causes the vines to ripen slowly, while the concave shape of the land helps retain winter water, ensuring enough reserves to sustain the vines through the summer.
WINEMAKING
Harvest timing is determined by flavor development, as the old vines ripen at lower brix levels due to their slow metabolism. The grapes are picked at night in half-ton bins and immediately whole-cluster pressed upon arrival at the winery. The fresh juice settles for 36 hours before being racked from the heavy solids into barrels to begin fermentation.
VINTAGE
Heavy winter rains replenished soils after years of drought, and a cool, wet spring introduced some early mildew pressure. A warm, even summer with few heat spikes and regular morning fog preserved acidity and aromatic freshness through a long, gradual ripening season. Grapes came in at lower sugars than usual with excellent natural balance. Quality was widely praised, with fruit showing concentration, fresh acidity and superb structure.
TASTING NOTE
Citrus and stone fruit on the nose, accented by a hint of flint, which adds a sense of richness and depth. On the palate, the wine is consistent from start to finish, with bright acidity balancing its density and freshness.
FOOD PAIRING
Halibut, oysters, aged Comté
Color
White
Blend %
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Sonoma Valley
Alcohol
14.6%
Suggested Retail Price
$142
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
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Myrna Chardonnay
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Myrna combines Bald Mountain’s surprisingly delicate floral notes that move quickly to ripe yellow and more exotic fruits with salty, lime and green fruit-inflected notes from Thornton Vineyard. The sappy texture of the wine makes its presence felt, and this grows into a more defined and powerful structure with layers of spice persisting through the finish.
