Martin Ray Bald Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay 2014
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Enthusiast
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Pair this elegant Chardonnay with ceviche with avocado and lime.
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
An incredible performance, the 2014 Martin Ray Bald Mountain Vineyard appears to be making a case for Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnays. Certainly demonstrative—showing bold core fruit, beautiful sweet oak, and uncommonly delicate balance. The wine's richness makes a natural pairing with lobster in a creamy reduction sauce. Drinks quite well now. (Tasted: September 8, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
-
Wine Enthusiast
A showy but crisp and fresh style of Chard, this offers honey butter, ripe apple flesh, yellow roses, lemongrass and the slightest show of guava tropicality on the nose. The sip begins with that tropical guava and mango character, then tightens on mandarin orange and lemon rind.
Other Vintages
2017-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Wong
Wilfred -
Suckling
James
The name Martin Ray resonates deeply in the history of California Winemaking. Martin Ray was a pioneer, dedicated to crafting single varietal, region specific wine from 1943 through 1972 in Saratoga, in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mentored by Paul Masson, he took a Burgundian approach to his winemaking, and developed what is now one of the most historical properties in California, known as Mount Eden.Nearly twenty years later, Courtney Benham stumbled upon 1500 cases of Martin Ray wine in a San Jose warehouse. Recognizing his good fortune, and his intent and drive to produce terroir driven wines, Ray’s historical significance and philosophy resonated with him. Courtney purchased the brand, and since 1990 has been committed to the production of artisanal wines worthy of the Martin Ray name.In 2003, Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery made its home in the Russian River Valley, one of the oldest continually working wineries in California. Today, Courtney and his winemaking team devote themselves to Ray’s ideology of making “wines of place”. They are relentlessat telling the story of wine. The depth of the portfolio offers those seeking a unique experience the chance to explore some of the most revered regionsin California. Fromthe Russian River Valley to Napa Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains, there is an abundance of phenomenal growing regions, great farming, and meticulous detail to vintages.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.