Matthiasson, Chardonnay 2022, Linda Vista Vineyard, Napa Valley, CA

Bright and zesty, with concentrated notes or Meyer lemon, honey, and peach. This wine’s got serious verve, and minerality for days.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: California

APPELLATION (AVA): Napa Valley 

REGION: Napa

VINEYARD: Linda Vista Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2022

GRAPES: 100% Chardonnay

SOIL: Marine origin clay soils

PRACTICE: Organic

VINIFICATION: Harvested fruit at different times during the ripening season. Whole cluster press, ferment and age sur lees in neutral French oak barrels with native yeast, minimal battonage. Two-fifths of the barrels went through malolactic fermentation.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Light lemon

BODY: Light to medium bodied

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Peach, salty, honey, beeswax, Meyer lemon

FLAVOR: Zesty, creamy, minerality for days

FORMAT: 750ml

ALCOHOL: 12.%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve chilled. Pair with oysters or roast chicken.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Steve Matthiasson

MATTHIASSON is a family endeavor, the effort of Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson, and their two young sons. They have both had life-long careers in sustainable agriculture, and we apply those ideals of balance, restraint, and respect for the individual—and for the whole—to their wine. Their production is simple but careful. This concept is central to the tradition of viticulture and winemaking. Respect for this tradition forms the core of their work. To that end, their hands literally touch every vine and every bottle.

Steve Matthiasson started out as a vineyard guy, not a winemaker, but with clients that included Araujo, Spottswoode, Chappellet, and Stag's Leap, Matthiasson gleaned valuable info on creating fresh, vibrant new wines. With his “grapes come first” sensibility, his skill at balancing lusciousness with crisp intensity and his fascination with little-known varieties, Matthiasson is helping to change the Napa Valley paradigm.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: Linda Vista Vineyard

“In 2011 we leased the Linda Vista Chardonnay vineyard behind our house and started farming it ourselves. We immediately converted it to organic farming and got busy re-invigorating the beautiful old vines. The West Oak Knoll area where we live is one of the classic Chardonnay spots in Napa, going back to the 60s, when the climate here was considered too cool for full-bodied reds. The cool winds and marine origin clay soils preserve zesty acidity and freshness, while the Napa sun provides richness and ripeness. Leasing the vineyard, taking it organic, and farming it ourselves gave us the control to feel comfortable producing a challenging and iconic variety like Chardonnay, where crafting “balance” means walking a razor’s edge in a genre with such iconic examples.” (matthiasson.com)

ABOUT THE LABEL: All of the art on Matthiasson’s labels are stylized vintage pruning shears, as an homage to the vineyards and those that work with the vines. The labels with just one pruning shear indicate more limited production wines. The labels are created by noted graphic artist Michael McDermott, who “is interested in the relationship between people and the objects they leave behind and the translation of physical experiences into digital spaces.” (mwmcdermott.com)