2020 SENS3S - Chardonnay Sonoma Coast (750ml)

Senses Wines was founded by three childhood friends, Christopher Strieter, Max Thieriot, and Myles Lawrence-Briggs, who grew up together in the small Sonoma Coast town of Occidental and reunited years later to make wine from the vineyards surrounding their hometown. Acclaimed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, known for his work with Rivers-Marie, joined the project as winemaking consultant in 2012, drawing on his deep familiarity with Occidental's cool, fog-swept terrain. The stylized SENS3S name nods to the group's shared history and their focus on capturing the raw character of the West Sonoma Coast in every bottle.

This Chardonnay draws in part from the Charles Heintz Vineyard, planted in 1982 on Goldridge sandy loam and farmed by the same grower since that year. Warm daytime sun and cool marine air moving in off the Pacific give the fruit bright acidity alongside real ripeness. Grapes are hand harvested, cold soaked briefly, then fermented with native yeasts before being pressed and aged in French oak, a hands-off approach meant to let the vineyard's character come through with minimal winemaking interference.

The wine opens with aromas of salted pineapple, chive blossom, and a touch of flinty reduction. On the palate, Meyer lemon and green apple flavors are framed by a stony, mineral-driven finish that lingers pleasantly. Bright and precise rather than heavy or oaky, it suits grilled halibut, herb-roasted chicken, or a simple plate of fresh chèvre.