The 2022 SCM Chard is a welcome return to the more Jura influenced slightly oxididative style of Chardonnay that we have always strived for in this wine. Some vintages lend themselves to a fresher style either because the acid isn't there to handle the oxidation or the fruit just doesn't go that direction. This is a vintage that has the structure and acid to hold up in a way that a little maderization adds complexity without making the wine feel or taste "old." I suspected that last year's would be crown pleasing since it was brighter, but this is one that will dig deeper with food pairings and leave us with more to think about. Per usual, a blend of Woodruff in Corralitos with vines going back to the 1970s and Amaya Ridge in the hills above Squel which we planted in 2011. Each of the two lots was whole-cluster pressed and combined in a concrete egg for fermentation, left there for a year on the lees, and then racked to 228L Burgundy barrels for another 9 months with very minimal topping. The wine has aromas of yeast and nuts and a damp cellar and flavors of lemon and butterscotch. This Chardonnay vintage has the marks of one that will age well. pH 3.19, TA 7.7 g/L