UV-SL sits in the far western reaches of the Sonoma Coast, just six miles from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard takes its name from the late Ulises Valdez Sr., Aubert’s longtime vineyard manager, and his home estate on Stoetz Lane. Mark Aubert and Valdez collaborated on planting the site roughly fifteen years ago, choosing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for a place where warm, sunlit afternoons are continually tempered by cool ocean breezes. That proximity to the coast has become central to the vineyard’s identity. Aubert calls the UV-SL Chardonnay its “chameleon,” a wine that shifts and expands as it spends time in the glass. In 2024, citrus blossom, nectarine, and opal apple lead into distinctly coastal notes of crushed seashell, wild fennel, and sea spray. The palate is broad and finely textured, gaining volume with air while retaining the saline character and precision that Mark Aubert associates with this site. Rare Chardonnay clonal material and the vineyard’s particular combination of climate and soil add another layer to its individuality. That ability to combine breadth with freshness is what makes UV-SL such a compelling part of the Aubert portfolio. The 2024 is intentionally bottled with a slight natural haze, reflecting the winery’s commitment to minimal-intervention winemaking, and Aubert expects the wine to continue evolving for another 10 to 15 years. It is a Chardonnay shaped by one of the most maritime sites in the Aubert collection, with the concentration to make an immediate impression and the structure to reveal considerably more with time.