2018 Peirson Meyer Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Peirson Meyer had its beginning in 2001 when Alan Peirson, Lesley Warner Peirson and winemaker Robbie Meyer decided to join forces and make their own wine. All came to the venture with a background in the wine industry. Alan Pierson was for twenty years an executive at Peter Michael Winery, and still works as Director of Viticulture at O’Shaungnessy Winery on Howell Mountain. Lesley is a trained chef who has worked as a private chef in Napa. Robbie Meyer worked at Peter Michael Winery, Lewis Cellar and as a consultant at other California producers before teaming up with the Peirsons. Peirson Meyer sources grapes from premier vineyards to make single vineyard Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Vinous has written that “Peirson Meyer is one of Sonoma’s most under the radar wineries…Peirson Meyer excels with racy, resonant wines long on personality.”

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

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.