Far Mountain
Bresa Chardonnay 2023
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
The 2023 Moon Mountain vintage stands out due to consistent, mild weather and above-average yields, resulting in wines of exceptional density, concentration, and structure. The region's low-yielding vines, producing at half the level of Sonoma County’s average, benefit from extended hang time due to later bud break and harvest. The challenging soils and elevations stress the vines, producing fruit with intense flavors and a high skin-to-fruit ratio. The result is wines with powerful tannins, balanced acidity, and impressive aging potential.
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
Reviews
Wine Enthusiast - July 28, 2026 "Cellar Selection."
James Suckling - December 10, 2025 "Saline and restrained, with a great core of fruit supported by aromas of salted nuts, lemon confit, grapefruit and yellow apples. The palate is tightly wound, with precise acidity, an almost waxy, rounded texture and a mouthwatering, lingering finish. A great balance of tension and power from a mountainous, dry-grown vineyard planted in 1972 on St. George rootstock. Excellent."
Vinous - February 1, 2026 "The 2023 Chardonnay Bresa emerges from the oldest sections of Bald Mountain Vineyard. It offers up hints of green pear, flowers and white peach, with lovely mid-palate creaminess. The lifted, mid-weight style is hugely appealing."
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Far Mountain Monte Rosso Vineyard
Moon District and Sonoma County
From the historic Monte Rosso vineyard planted in the 1880s and defined by its deep red volcanic soils, this Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted with a gentle and precise approach in the cellar to express the site’s structure, depth, and enduring sense of place.
The Nunnery Vineyard
Moon District and Sonoma County
The Nunnery is a striking mountain vineyard perched high in Nunn’s Canyon on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas. The site reflects a deep understanding of mountain viticulture, where volcanic soils, elevation, and steady mountain air shape wines of clarity, structure, and vibrant energy. As a result, The Nunnery blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is as exotic, intense and complex as its mountain soils, with remarkable depth and layered flavors.
Amotus Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
Fission is a wine of texture, with the intensity and concentration we associate with old vines. It builds into powerful tannins that remain refined, almost cloaked by the seductiveness of the fruit and the gently building structure. The name Fission was ultimately chosen to reference the textural and mineral characteristics that the unique volcanic soil brings to this wine.
Montecillo Cabernet Sauvignon
Moon Mountain, Sonoma County, California
The Montecillo vineyard is one of California’s most historic sites, first planted in 1860. This Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the vineyard’s high elevation, volcanic soils, dry-farming, organic viticulture, and pioneering spirit. Refined and complex, it honors over a century of resilience and innovation at Montecillo, embodying the enduring legacy of California winemaking.
Fission Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
Fission is a wine of texture, with the intensity and concentration we associate with old vines. It builds into powerful tannins that remain refined, almost cloaked by the seductiveness of the fruit and the gently building structure. The name Fission was ultimately chosen to reference the textural and mineral characteristics that the unique volcanic soil brings to this wine.
Myrna Chardonnay
Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
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.
