Marine Layer Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Charles Heintz Vineyard 2018

Marine Layer is the collaborative venture of Baron Ziegler and winemaker Rob Fischer (of Banshee Wines), designed to highlight the singular terroir of the Sonoma Coast. As the name indicates, the thick marine fog that blankets the area creates extreme, yet rewarding conditions for winegrowing, with delicious results! Separated from the Pacific Ocean by two ridges and a mere eight miles, Charles Heintz Vineyard is acclaimed as one of the most prized sites for growing chardonnay in California. It sits on the outskirts of the town of Occidental on the classic sandy loam soils of the Green Valley sub-AVA. Here, cool foggy evenings significantly delay ripening, allowing for the development of intense depth and nuance in the resulting wines. The 2018 melds lavish layers of spiced baked pear, vanilla blossom, marzipan, and beeswax with a weighty, mouth-coating texture. A streak of vibrant acidity provides elegant structure throughout, playing a lively counterpoint to its opulent richness. Flourishes of seaside minerality lead to a savory, lingering finish. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.