Mission Codename Jean Grey
This. THIS is the kind of soul-stimulating Chardonnay your Agents will drink with utter joy-filled abandon. Any time, any place.
Iconic describes it as “near perfection in our mind of what Chardonnay can be.” Wine Enthusiast agrees too because they gave it a healthy 95 points.
Then you see we knocked the price down from $50 to a much friendlier $28. Overdelivering on all fronts, that’s for sure. But with only four barrels made and barely enough to share with you for an offer, the clock is ticking!
This was made by a little-known rockstar of a winemaker named Birk O’Halloran. He teamed up with Karl Antle with one goal in mind - making the best wines possible. They’re living up to that claim and this perfectly expresses why Chardonnay is the favorite grape for many winemakers. With the right imprint, it turns downright sophisticated, flashy, sexy, and irresistible.
Sourced from Michael Mara Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap. Who else sources fruit from this special site? Matthiasson for one, who actually owns, and farms this tiny 4-acre site, making his own most highly regarded Chardonnay. And Broc Cellars too, another hugely popular boutique producer among the somms and ‘nerdy’ wine geeks out there. Good company to be in.
This “Heroine” Chardonnay is their best effort. It has strength, style, and feminine sophistication. Pure as a crystal clear spring’s water and just as refreshing. Revitalizing? Yes. Invigorating? You bet.
So much going on here - candied lemon peel and honeysuckle, just ripe pears… It’s crisp and zesty but has serious weight and a creamy mouthfeel. Dare we say, it’s got the B word (Burgundian) written all over it, with intensity and richness layered in for good measure by the famously generous California sunshine. Long and complex, it’s assuredly world-class, eager to enrich your favorite seafood or shellfish recipes, or a simple weekday Risotto alla Milanese with peas.
If you’re remotely interested in what Chardonnay can truly be, you need this in your life. With that score and this price, it just won’t last.
95 Points – Wine Enthusiast
“From a stellar site hidden within the appellation, this white is native fermented and aged in neutral French oak. Anise, fennel and stone highlight a robust mouthfeel that evolves into green apple and a hint of pear, lasting in both impressive structure and fresh acidity.”
Tasting Profile
Candied lemon peel, honeysuckle, pear, crisp and creamy
Look | Bright lemon-gold, with a touch of amber glimmering in her heart |
---|---|
Smell | Candied lemon peel and honeysuckle, just-ripe pears, and minerals |
Taste | It’s crisp and zesty but has serious weight and a creamy mouthfeel |
Finish | Long and complex, it’s assuredly world-class, revitalizing and invigorating |
Pairing | Seafood, shellfish, or a simple weekday Risotto alla Milanese with peas |
What the Winery Says
2017 'Heroine' Michael Mara Vineyard Chardonnay
- Winemaker
- Birk O’Halloran
- Varietal
- 100% Chardonnay
- Vintage
- 2017
- Alcohol
- 13.2%
- Appellation
- Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
- Vineyard
- Michael Mara Vineyard
- Soils
- Volcanic origin alluvial cobble and gravel
- Clones
- Wente 4
- Total acidity
- 7.8 g/L
- pH
- 3.29
- Residual sugar
- <0.5 g/L
- Aging
- 11 months
- Barrels
- 100% neutral French oak
- Production
- 4 barrels