2023 Vivier - Chardonnay Carneros Hyde Vineyard (750ml)

Vivier Wines is the family project of Stéphane and Dana Vivier, founded in 2009 with a handful of credit cards and just thirty cases of wine. Stéphane grew up in the village of Meloisey in Burgundy, learning winemaking from an elderly neighbor before earning his enology degree at the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon. Since 2002 he has also served as winemaker at Hyde de Villaine in Carneros, working under Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, an apprenticeship that shaped his hands off, Burgundian approach to both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This bottling comes from the celebrated Hyde Vineyard on the eastern edge of Los Carneros, where vines are exposed to cooling winds funneled through the Petaluma Gap. That airflow moderates temperatures and stretches out the growing season, allowing the fruit to develop complexity while retaining natural acidity. Stéphane describes himself as a lazy winemaker, meaning he intervenes as little as possible in the cellar, letting the vineyard's character speak through minimal handling and gentle use of French oak.

The wine offers a linear, restrained style with vivid lemon meringue, citrus, and mineral notes, backed by racy acidity and a touch of natural reduction that adds complexity. Medium bodied and nervy rather than heavy, it has real structure for aging. This wine pairs beautifully with roasted mushrooms, seared scallops, or a creamy goat cheese tart.