2005 Chateau Boswell Braughton Vineyard Chardonnay

Chateau Boswell on the Silverado Trail was established in 1979, which the vintage of the estate’s debut release. Susan and Thornton Boswell founded the winery with consulting from the legendary Andre Tschelistcheff. Today the estate is often under the radar of the general wine buying public, and it has only a few acres under vine. Much of the fruit used for production is sourced from premium vineyards in the region. Chateau Boswell makes extremely limited amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Luc Morlet was making the wine until he left in 2012. More recent vintages have been crafted by Russell Bevan. Reviewers are generally complimentary.

Sonoma Coast AVA runs from San Pablo Bay in the south to Mendocino County in the north. It includes 7,000 vineyard acres and earned AVA status in 1987. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean means it gets double the rainfall of nearby inland appellations and the ocean gives the appellation a relatively cool climate. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can thrive in these conditions, and there are numerous producers making critically acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.