2006 Chardonnay Estate

Nick and Andy Peay purchased their isolated, dramatically situated property at the extreme northern end of the Sonoma Coast, just below Mendocino County, in 1998 and now have just under 50 acres planted to vines. "That's about where we top out," said Nick. "The topography is so rugged and steep that some of what we have under vine is already incredibly difficult to farm." Nick's wife Vanessa Wong, who carries an impressive resume, notably a stint at Peter Michael, including time as their chief winemaker, is responsible for the Peay wines. "The variety of exposures and overall situation here is incredible," she told me, "not to mention the diurnal shifts, fog influence and coastal influence. The yields here are by nature very low, which means greater concentration of flavors, which is the key to great wines. That's why everybody is fascinated with the coast."