2023 Ron Rubin - Chardonnay Russian River

Ron Rubin began dreaming of owning a winery while studying viticulture and enology at UC Davis, and in 2011 he purchased River Road Family Vineyards and Winery in Green Valley, part of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. The estate dates to 1976 and farms fine sandy loam Goldridge soils. His self-named label is made there, and the winery is now a Certified B Corporation.

Morning fog rolls in from the Pacific nearly every day, creating temperature swings of 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit that let Chardonnay ripen slowly on the vine. The 2023 growing season was cooler and wetter than average, which delayed harvest and encouraged gradual maturity. Grapes were hand-picked and gently pressed, then fermented in barrel and tank using a mix of French and American oak, 20 percent of it new. Partial malolactic fermentation took place in barrel.

Ripe apple, dried pineapple, hay, and almond lead to notes of butterscotch, toasted nuts, and apple blossom. The medium to full-bodied palate is textured and rich, with savory, spicy nuances and zesty stone fruit lingering through the finish alongside a hint of toasty oak.