2023 Platt Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 6pk 6x750ml

Platt Vineyard Reserve sits within the Jackson Family Wines portfolio — the same group behind Kendall-Jackson — but this isn't about volume or blending across regions. In the mid-2000s, the Jackson family reversed course, committing to single-vineyard expression and terroir-driven wines. The Platt Vineyard Reserve bottling is the proof: a strict selection of the best lots and barrels from mature vines on the Sonoma Coast, a site defined by Pacific fog, cool nights, and mineral-laden soils that give Chardonnay uncommon tension and depth.

The 2023 vintage marks a historic moment: the inaugural release of the Platt Vineyard Estate Reserve, and the only perfect score awarded to a Sonoma wine in 2023. Antonio Galloni at Vinous gave it 100 points — a rare call for California Chardonnay. This was blended from three blocks that highlight the site's remarkable mineral intensity, culled from two of the best parcels on the property. Only 878 cases were made.

The 2023 vintage was a test of patience and precision. Bountiful winter rains and a cool, foggy spring delayed budbreak by three to four weeks. Uneven set and diminished yields followed. A cool yet sunny summer provided the warmth needed to ripen even the coolest blocks, and an exceptionally late harvest — October 4th to October 26th — allowed the fruit to develop complexity without losing its coastal edge. Selective canopy work protected against October rains. The result: old Wente selections distinguished by long hang times, concentrated fruit, and striking aromatics.

Fermented in barrel on native yeasts, the wine aged for 14 months in 60-gallon Burgundy barrels — 33% new French oak, 67% used — adding texture and breadth without overwhelming the site. The wine shows saturated citrus oil, fresh nectarine, mandarin, wild fennel, and crushed white rocks. Oak brings a dash of vanilla and weight to the palate, but the core is all Sonoma Coast: chalky texture, salty mineral accents, and vibrant acidity that carries the finish. Complex, layered, and powerfully structured, this is one of the best Chardonnays we've tasted from California in years.

This is the kind of wine that proves terroir still matters in California — and that perfect scores aren't reserved for Burgundy. Pull the cork now for an exposition of coastal intensity, or cellar it through the next decade and watch it build even more depth.