Madson - 'Sunsprings' - Chardonnay - Santa Rita Hills, CA - 2021

2021 Sunsprings Chardonnay

This Chardonnay is Wente Clone sourced from a small sandy block in the far west Sta Rita Hills. This planting lies adjacent to a sandy creek bed in a low basin just 3 miles from the ocean. Good drainage and low nitrogen levels restrain the growth of the grape clusters. The tiny clusters have what we call a high “skin to juice ratio” leading to more phenolics in the wine and thereby more richness in texture. Cool ocean winds whip through the vines during the growing season helping to retain freshness and mineral composition in the fruit. This west Sta. Rita Hills site is truly a special slice of Coastal California grape growing and we are thankful to be able to make this wine. 12.2 % ABV, 113 cases produced.
Upon harvest, we gently press the Chardonnay and transfer to barrel. Native fermentations occur in cooperage. The wine remains in barrel for 6-9 months before racking to stainless steel tanks for an additional 4 months. Please expect some solids and tartrates in the bottle, especially with age.

This wine exhibits a bright salty brine aroma with white jasmine tea and lemon pith. Translucent honeydew melon in the glass, the wine tastes of white peach and lemon. A punchy flavor of seaside joy. Pairs well with the courage for first dates and sunlight through window panes. We made this wine thoughtfully to show itself best with age. Enjoy now or cellar for savoring at its peak.

We think critically about our farm decisions and our impact on ecosystems.
At Madson, we believe that in order to produce great wines, one must understand the soils that lie beneath the vines and the climate that surrounds them. Only then can one understand the fruit, to make thoughtful decisions about farming and harvesting. Without quality wine grapes, the vinification is more about hiding mistakes in the vineyard than it is about expressing the vineyard to its full potential. With this in mind, Madson has made an effort to lease vineyards and carry out all farming practices instead of buying fruit. We do not directly own our vineyards but we farm all of our vineyards or consult local Santa Cruz Mountain growers with their viticultural practices.

As a standard, all of the vineyards that we work with have been converted to 100% organic practices. We use only ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers including animal waste and nitrogen fixing cover crops to help regulate and maintain the health of soil microbes. Many of our vineyards were not organic prior to our adoption; we find that motivating vineyard owners to adopt organics is more rewarding than merely searching for growers who already understand its value. However, organic agriculture does not encompass all of the solutions for responsible agriculture. We must explore beyond the organic system to maintain and improve our surrounding ecosystems and communities.

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farm system that enriches and sequesters carbon dioxide in soils, increases biodiversity, and improves watersheds. While organic agriculture ensures a healthy crop for anthropogenic purposes, organics does not necessarily improve surrounding ecosystems and soils. With an evolving climate, we believe that agriculture must evolve to not only care for people but also care for the environment and the atmosphere.

We aim to minimally interfere and guide fermentations to show vibrancy.
Although we believe that winemaking begins with quality farming practices, ultimately, the transformation of fruit to wine occurs in the cellar. We begin by finding ripeness based on physiological cues as well as the flavor of the fruit on the vines. All fermentation occur naturally and spontaneously, and we often utilize pied de cuves (or small mother fermentations that begin in the vineyard) to inoculate our fermenters. We find that the natural yeast strains found in the vineyard make fermentations that are slower and more diverse, ultimately showcasing a greater complexity of flavor.

Élevage occurs mostly in neutral or seasoned oak casks. Generally, each wine will be racked once after pressing and once before bottling. Each wine remains in the same cask for the majority of its life. At bottling, the wine will receive a small sulfur addition. Bottled wines are stored in a cool cellar until they are released.