DuMOL Chardonnay RRV Wester Reach 2024
CRITICAL ACCLAIM:
“The 2023, 2024, and 2025 vintages represent the best consecutive trio DuMOL has seen in modern history. Despite relentless July heat and mildew pressure, the season remained calm and orderly with lower sugars and lower acidity than 2023. The 2024 Chardonnay Wester Reach is a golden yellow hue and reveals aromatics of pineapple, lemon marmalade, honeysuckle, and delicate toast. It’s full-bodied on the palate, yet juicy and approachable, with excellent freshness and broad appeal. Drink 2026-2036.” - 94 PTS., AUDREY FRICK, JEB DUNNUCK 9O6/2026)
“The 2024 Wester Reach Chardonnay pops from the glass with vivacious notes of juicy pears and ripe peaches, leading to hints of persimmons, honeysuckle, and candle wax, plus a hint of croissant. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and silky, with orchard fruit laced through the savory finish.” - 94 PTS., LISA PERROTTI-BROWN, THE WINE INDEPENDENT (05/2026)
"The 2024 Chardonnay Wester Reach is a very pretty, open-knit offering from DuMOL. Lemon confit, marzipan and light tropical inflections all grace this soft, inviting Chardonnay. About a third of the fruit is from Heintz, which tends to show those characteristics. Brisk saline notes round out the finish" - 91 PTS., ANTONIO GALLONI, VINOUS MEDIA (01/2026)
WINERY NOTES:
OVERVIEW: “Our “Wester Reach” Chardonnay is a multi-layered interpretation of this classic region where we live and farm vines. It includes some of the finest sites in the appellation - vineyards that we have either planted, farmed or harvested for thirty years. Comprising three of our region’s unique sub-districts, the wine blends fruit from the valley with vineyards further west, stretching out to the coolest ‘reaches’ of the appellation’s high elevation coastal ridges. Each district contributes something unique, be it valley-floor richness, ridgeline fruit intensity or coastal vibrancy."
VINEYARDS: “40% Peters Sundance Ranch; 32% Charles Heintz Vineyard; 20% Flora Marie Vineyard; 8% Lorenzo Vineyard”
VINTAGE: “The 2024 season saw a wet winter, a mild spring, and a warm July. Fortunately, harvest temperatures were gentle and mild, allowing steady progression to perfect maturity. Irrigation was not required. Harvest took place over a stress-free four-week period. Berry size was moderate, so the wines have obvious concentration with an intense fruit core and fresh balancing acidity.”
VINIFICATION: "Fermented by native yeasts then aged in 228L French oak barrels, 20% new for 11 months. Blended and finished in tank for 4 months. Bottled unfiltered.”
TASTING: “Aromas and flavors akin to lemon and nectarine, thyme and mint, flint and anise. Medium-bodied with generous texture then a long mouthwatering finish. Drink between 2026 and 2030.”