2018 DuMOL Chardonnay Wester Reach Russian River Valley 750 ml

We waited for our very first allocation from Sonoma County’s iconic DuMOL winery for nearly three years, and all that anticipation set the bar almost impossibly high. But when the Wester Reach Chardonnay finally arrived last year, it not only went beyond our expectations…

… it became our #1 member-rated California Chardonnay of 2020.  

One member summed up the California classic perfectly, calling Wester Reach "One of the best Chardonnay wines I have ever had the pleasure of drinking." Today, we’re thrilled to bring Wine Access members the naturally rich, balanced, and vibrant 2018—the new vintage of what we believe is one of the most exhilarating white wines made in Sonoma County, period. 

Crafted by DuMOL partner and Littorai veteran Andy Smith from fruit grown on some of the Russian River Valley’s most storied sites, this bottle puts the glory of Sonoma County’s flawless 2018 vintage on full display. Aromas led by mandarin blossom, summer apricot, and Sicilian lemon zest are touched with roasted almond and a zingy mineral layer, and lead to a seductive and powerful palate that eases into a beautiful toasty finish. This the very best of California—a world-class Chardonnay that we’ve long loved, and now carries the official stamp of approval from Wine Access members. 

Andy Smith has been crafting wines for DuMOL for more than two decades, and this Chardonnay fits right into what critic Jeb Dunnuck called the “finest set of releases” he’s tasted from the winemaker. So whether you’re already a DuMOL loyalist or have yet to taste the glory, there’s no better time to get in on one of the Golden State’s true Chardonnay greats. 

Since their founding in 1996, DuMOL has risen to the very top of the Russian River Valley hierarchy on the strength of their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet. And while DuMOL’s versatility has impressed both critics and wine lovers, their Burgundy varieties have made the biggest waves. No surprise, considering that longtime winemaker Andy Smith, in addition to working with 100-point legend Paul Hobbs, became a seasoned veteran of Russian River under Chardonnay master Ted Lemon of Littorai. 

That experience is on display in the 2018 Wester Reach Chardonnay, a third of which was grown at Russian River’s famed Dutton Ranch, where the steep, windy slopes of the Hansen Hill Vineyard deliver grapes of gorgeous intensity and freshness. A quarter came from DuMOL’s high-density O’Connell Estate Vineyard, which supplies small yields of ultra-concentrated fruit from its perch on an east-facing plateau ten miles from the Pacific. The balance comes from the Ritchie Vineyard—which has been farmed by DuMOL for 20 years—and old Chardonnay vines at the world-famous sites Charles Heintz and Lorenzo Vineyards.

This range of plantings from varied soils, densities, and elevations provides a picture-perfect snapshot of California’s most acclaimed Chardonnay region, in a vintage that can only be described as blessed. Smith ushered the wine along by fermenting and aging it over twelve months in 35% new French oak, imbuing it with gorgeous brioche, buttercream, coconut, and clove notes. 

This is the kind of elegant, rich Chardonnay that made the Russian River famous. Our first allocation of DuMOL’s stellar Chardonnay rose above our lofty expectations, and we’re thrilled to have this new vintage in hand—and in our glasses. We know you’ll love it too.