KutchSantaCruzMountainsTroutGulchChardonnay

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA has long offered some of California’s greatest wines, with its old, gnarled vines predating any plantings in Napa. The vineyard, which winemaker Jamie Kutch has been working with for many years, is situated a mere 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. A combination of the sandy loam soils, sunshine, and the cold climate of this site has created a Chardonnay full of cool climate character, yet simultaneously uniquely Californian.

95/100 – The 2023 Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard is a weightlessly intense and distinctly saline expression of this site, opening with an expressive nose of dried jasmine, sage, white pepper, oyster brine and dried citrus. The palate is sleek, tensile and lined with mouthwatering acidity that energizes and propels the invigorating finish. A leading expression of a modern classic site in Corralitos, this wine should age beautifully over the next decade, if not longer. – Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate

18/20 – Savoury nose and truly beautiful balance. Just a little hint of ‘natural’ on the finish but this has real conviction and its own savoury style. Not the merest hint of California popcorn! A dry spine runs through it and really refreshes the palate. Complex but accessible. Lime and line here! – Jancis Robinson MW