Hanzell Chardonnay 22

One of California wine's founding legends. Ambassador James Zellerbach established Hanzell in 1953 on the Mayacamas slopes above the town of Sonoma with a singular dream: to make Chardonnay to rival Burgundy. The estate pioneered temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation and French oak aging in America — and its Ambassador's 1953 Vineyard remains the oldest continuously producing Chardonnay planting in the New World. The flagship blends certified-organically-farmed estate fruit from volcanic clay-loam slopes at 500–830 feet, fermented mostly in stainless with a portion in French oak and aged over a year before release. The 2022 is classic Hanzell: chiseled and fresh, with green citrus, yellow apple, salted nuts, and grapefruit pith over a firm mineral spine — understated now, and famously built to age for decades.

Wine Details:

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay (heritage Hanzell & Old Wente clone selections)

ABV: Approx. 13.9% — confirm from label

Region: Sonoma Valley, California — estate vineyards on the Mayacamas range

Farming / Practices: Certified organically farmed estate vineyards at 500–830 ft on volcanic clay-loam; fermented majority stainless steel with a portion in French oak, aged ~14 months before bottling

Producer: Hanzell Vineyards, founded 1953 by Ambassador James D. Zellerbach

Bottle Size: 750ml