2009 Kesner “Sandrift” Chardonnay

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$55 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Jason Kesner began his career firmly in the vineyard, but as he says on his web site:  “Growing fruit for many of the top winemakers in the country and then sorrowfully seeing my year’s work leave on other people’s trucks drove me to stay up all night and hand press a single barrel of chardonnay.  The light bulb went off.”

At the time he launched Kesner Wines in 2002, he was general manager of Hudson Vineyards in the Napa Valley, with heavyweight clients such as Cakebread, Darioush, Duckhorn, Kongsgaard and chardonnay heavyweight, Kistler.

After ramping up winemaking to three barrels of chardonnay, Kesner focused on selling his chard to restaurants, and he struck gold when his brand was featured on the wine list at the French Laundry.  In 2008 he signed on at Kistler where he is assistant winemaker, splitting his time between the winery and the vineyard.

Winery Tasting Notes:  From the sand driven soils of western Sonoma County deposited by the Pacific tens of thousands of years ago and those still ocean influenced hills. Sourced from two sites along the ridge of sandy hilltops outside Sebastopol. Beautiful notes of golden stone fruit and a defining sense of minerality, with a hint of whey. A medium-full and very lively wine. Laced with a vibrant acidity and a liquid stone like earthen chord that we have come to expect from these sites, which resonates through its very long lasting finish. Native fermentation in barrel. Aged in same barrels, 30% newer French Oak, 16 months sur lie.

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