2020 Senses UV Silver Eagle Vineyard Chardonnay

Senses Wines is a new Sonoma Coast estate founded by three childhood friends with complementary skills and a shared passion for wine. Chris Strieter has an advanced degree in finance and worked with Williams Selyem before taking charge of business at Senses Wines. Max Thieriot grew up working on his family’s vineyards and he oversees operations and vineyard management, among other tasks. Max Thieriot is also an actor known for his work in such movies as House at the End of the Street and Chloe, and such television mini-series as Bates Motel and Texas Rising. Myles Lawrence-Briggs manages production with consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, one of California’s most admired winemakers. Senses Wines sources grapes from Sonoma Coast vineyards owned by parents of the founders. Those estate vineyards are B.A. Thieriot Vineyard, owned by Cameron and Bridgit Thieriot, and Hillcrest Vineyard, owned by Carl Briggs and Lisa Lawrence. Senses also sources grapes from Charles Heintz and Terra de Promissio Vineyards. Debut releases were 2013 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The wines are generally available only via the estate’s mailing list.

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.