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Marine Layer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Aries 2023

$4599

From the producer: 

The 2023 Aries Chardonnay is a thoughtfully crafted selection of barrels sourced from our premier single vineyard Chardonnays, showcasing the finest expressions from key sub-AVAs within the revered Sonoma Coast. Included are key vineyard sites in the Green Valley and Petaluma Gap sub-AVAs, complemented by our very own Marine Layer Vineyard Chardonnay nestled in the Sebastopol Hills. These sites, characterized by their foggy, cool evenings, distinctive microclimates, and varied soil compositions, collectively define the sought-after terroir of the Sonoma Coast. Bright and vibrant, yet mineral-driven and nuanced.

 

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

92 points

"The 2023 Chardonnay Aries is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Bright and focused, with notable tension, the 2023 is seriously impressive. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers and chalk all race out the glass. The energy of the vintage shines. This is such a classy wine." —Antonio Galloni

Decanter

93 points

"Mostly puncheon with a couple concrete eggs for fermentation, with Chardonnay coming from the Marine Layer Vineyard as well as Heintz, Gaps Crown, Durrell and Hawk Hill vineyards, along with six rows of Bohemian Vineyard. A tremendous value at under $50, this Chardonnay with intense citrus cream aromatics, with notes of canded ginger. The palate shows lush notes of pineapple, Meyer lemon and ripe mangoes with crunchy saline minerality and soaring acidity brightens the ripe fruit through to the finish."

More about Marine Layer

As the wine world veered away from power and ripeness and towards freshness in elegance in the last 15 years or so, it was inevitable that cooler climates would become more and more desirable – especially as global warming is driving traditional vineyard temperatures in the opposite direction.

This is especially true in the New World. Outside of Europe, our vineyards have the reputation of being located in warm sites that easily produce ripe fruit. Think of California’s hot Central Valley, where most of the state’s wines are produced. But California – like Argentina or Australia for that matter – also has cooler climates. And it is these cooler sites that are now playing the starring role in our wines.

So it is that Baron Ziegler and Rob Fischer became obsessed with the idea of producing wine from top sites along the Sonoma Coast. These are very cool, thanks to fogs that roll in off the ocean and keep the sunlight out. That fog is called the “marine layer”. So they named their winery Marine Layer.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Chardonnay

  • Vintage

    2023

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Fruity

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied