Floral Terranes Chardonnay North Fork of Long Island

The grapes come from Matta Bella in Southold, Long Island. The wine had about a week’s skin contact before going into barrel. It went through some reduction early on and so they, uniquely, racked the hell out of this wine – a full three times just to get some oxygen in the wine. They then decided to split the wine into two barrels and to let it finish with even more oxidation; to lean into the oxidative properties as it was.

Honestly you don’t read that oxidation all that much – this does not taste like the Jura. There is for sure a complex flinty-herbal play, wily phenolics that mimic mint, capsaicin, and floral oils. On the palate the wine is full, rounded but not heavy, with a melon mid-palate ever so slightly honeyed. After this pleasant midpalate stroll with various warm fruit tones, the finish is more herbal.