2024 Birichino - Chardonnay Saint Georges Central Coast (750ml)

Birichino was founded in Santa Cruz in 2008 by Alex Krause and John Locke, who bring a combined four decades of winemaking experience across California, France, and Italy to the project. Their focus centers on sourcing from carefully farmed, family owned, own-rooted vineyards planted in cooler, marine influenced pockets of the Central Coast, many dating back to the early twentieth century. The pair favor minimal intervention winemaking, relying on native fermentations, neutral vessels, and light handling, all in pursuit of wines built around perfume, poise, and a certain playful character that reflects the winery's name.

Saint Georges Chardonnay draws primarily from vines planted in 1969 by George Besson Sr. on a former plum orchard in Hecker Pass at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, fruit long sourced by Josh Jensen of Calera before finding its way to Birichino in this vintage. The blend is rounded out with Chardonnay from Coastview, a high elevation, limestone and granite site in the Gabilan Mountains, and from the dry farmed Peter Martin Ray Vineyard atop Mount Eden. Each lot was picked, gently pressed, and fermented separately with native yeast in a mix of stainless steel and old barriques, completing malolactic naturally before a single racking ahead of bottling.

The wine shows golden apple, toasted hazelnut, and a distinct limestone chalkiness, forward and rich without becoming heavy. The palate stays balanced and long, closing with a bright, citrus-tinged finish. It pairs well with roast chicken, grilled swordfish, or a creamy corn chowder.