2022 MACAULEY BACIGALUPI VINEYARD RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY Macauley Vineyard was founded in 1980 by Ann Macauley Watson and today is owned and operated by her son Mac. Mac began his love affair in the wine industry after crushing his first vintage in 2001 while working for Rudd Estate. He works closely with his childhood friend Kirk Venge, son of the renowned winemaker Nils Venge, to craft wines representing the next generation of exceptional winemaking. Mac and Kirk share the same goal of producing wines with depth, brilliance, and a range of complexity directly related to each site’s specific terroir. Their Chardonnay beautifully depicts the historic Bacigalupi vineyard, coming from the same block that went into the famed 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, winner at the iconic Judgement of Paris tasting. The wine indulges the senses with its Burgundian finesse, balance, and bright acidity from equal treatments of concrete, oak, and stainless steel, producing under 500 cases. "The ’22 fires off fresh and bright rounds from the start, with notes of wet stone, lemon skin, quince and lemongrass. It’s not a big wine, but one with focus, purity, energy and crisp edges. Savor the lifted aromatics and citrusy mouth feel. The stone minerality awakens the palate and shows the kind of balance of salinity that will draw you back for sip after sip. It’s just gorgeous." - Kirk Venge