2018 Sonoma Coast Set // Chardonnay + Pinot Noir // 750 ml Each

Flowers Vineyards & Winery was founded by Joan and Walt Flowers with the simple goal of making exceptional wine that could capture the wild beauty and spirit of the Sonoma Coast. This passion drives everything they do—from their responsible farming practices and harvesting by hand, to 100% native fermentation and crafting wines with minimal intervention.

Flowers’ estate vineyards were some of the first planted on the Sonoma Coast in 1991. Perched on top of soaring coastal ridges that border the Pacific Ocean at elevations of 1,150 to 1,875 feet, the grapes here benefit from cool daytime breezes during sunny days, and chilly fog in the evening. These maritime breezes and coastal fog cool the vineyards during the heat of summer, allowing fruit to fully mature with fresh, complex flavors. The result is a wine with a distinct coastal minerality and bright, natural acidity.

The Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard is planted primarily to Chardonnay, with the majority of the vines being Hyde-Old Wente clonal selections complimented by plantings of Dijon clones 76 and 95. In the fall, the grapes are carefully selected by hand in the cool morning hours in order to maintain freshness. Grape clusters are then sorted by hand before going directly into the press. Gently pressed Chardonnay juice is settled in order to limit the amount of solids in the new juice, then put directly into new and 1-2 year old French oak barrels for 100% barrel fermentation.

In 2010, Flowers adopted native fermentation for 100% of their winemaking, which coincided with the beginning of their conversion to biodynamic and organic farming. They chose to fully embrace terroir by letting the vines and the vintage speak for themselves through this natural form of fermentation. Barrels are also hand stirred with a thin wand twice monthly. This traditional method of battonage creates complexity in the wine by whisking up natural yeast and fermentation sediment (known as lees) and allowing them to settle through the aging wines. The wines become softer, more complex, and gain exquisite mouthfeel. Final blending takes place in the early summer, after which the wines receive additional bottle aging in temperature controlled cellars until release.

The 2018 Chardonnay was aged in 100% French Oak (18% new) for 11 months, then aged for three months on lees in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling. Awards: 93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Points - Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points - Wine Spectator, 90 - Robert Parker

The 2018 Pinot Noir is aged in 100% French Oak (18% New) for 10 months. Awards: 93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Points - Wine Enthusiast.