Marchelle, Mendocino Ridge (Mendocino County, California) Chardonnay 2021

 Mendocino Ridge is a small AVA that sits just above the fog line.  While the AVA’s lower elevation limit is 1,200 feet, Manchester Ridge Vineyard sits at 2,000 feet of elevation which further influences the fruit providing both colder temperatures and sunlight exposure.  Greg La Follette favors this vineyard for its elevation and diurnal temperature range — the difference in night and daytime temperatures.  More specifically, the vineyard’s microclimate enables delayed harvests, providing complexity without sacrificing acidity.  Greg has sourced fruit from Manchester Ridge for over a decade, and it’s no shock he turned to them for the Marchelle project.  The wine is elegant with fresh agave, pineapple core, Asian pear, supporting lily floral components, and fresh airy sponge cake.  The mouthfeel is complex and round, and made with Greg’s classical emphasis on an Old World style.  I have been a fan of Greg La Follette’s work for several years and I’m really excited to see where he takes the Marchelle project.