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Maison Areion

Maison Areion is a super-small-production project centered around Chaine d’Or Vineyard, planted in 1987. Proprietor/winemaker Nicolas Vonderheyden named the project “Maison Areion” after a horse in Greek mythology as a tribute to his professional horseback rider sister, who suffered a traumatic brain injury. Vonderheyden grew up around his family’s vineyard, Château Monbrison, in Margaux. His oenological and food and beverage studies eventually brought him back to the United States, where he took over winemaking operations for Jerry Anderson’s Chaine d'Or Vineyards in 2014. Vonderheyden started Maison Areion in 2015, sourcing fruit primarily from Chaine d’Or, for which he now owns the full licensing, equipment and infrastructure, except for the real estate.

As a winemaker, Vonderheyden is gutsy and experimental. He’s not afraid to take chances, and he’s candid about his misses. Though he’s most excited about making Chardonnay, Vonderheyden cannot shake off the influence of his Bordelaise upbringing. The 2018 and 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chaine d’Or are excellent and super-distinctive, aged in a combination of French and American oak with some amphora. Even though this vineyard is maxed out (as is Vonderheyden’s time—he consults full-time for Acaibo in Sonoma County), this is a project worth following as the style and methods come into greater focus.

From Santa Cruz Mountains – The Chameleon (Oct 2024) by Billy Norris

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2021 Chardonnay Wheeler Vineyard

Release Price: $35

Color: White

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