2022 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Russian River Selection Russian River Valley 750 ml

Gary Farrell’s Russian River Selection Chardonnay has established itself as a pantheon-level bottling for our members, and the reason for its quality is simple: It’s drawn from some of the greatest Chardonnay sites in California.

Built on grapes from the fog-shrouded Westside Farms, the wine gains concentration and structure from grapes from the Allen Vineyard (of $120 Williams Selyem fame) and Rochioli Vineyard, a legendary site and go-to for Chardonnay superstars like David Ramey. Wente-clone Chardonnay from Olivet Lane—the source of another $100+ wine from Williams Selyem—brings bright citrus and excellent acidity. The winemaker at the helm is Theresa Heredia, who cut her teeth in Burgundy before running Freestone Winery for Joseph Phelps. 

Gary Farrell pioneered single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay expressions long before site-specific bottlings became de rigueur. The winery honors his legacy today by crafting wines of remarkable precision and elegance that don’t sacrifice an ounce of Russian River grandeur. The winery's relationships with legendary vineyards—Rochioli, Allen, Bacigalupi, and Hallberg, among others—provide access to some of California's most coveted fruit. 

They faced a challenging 2022 vintage from the start—but it ultimately ended in triumph. Following a cold, dry winter and a rainy spring, summer warmth pushed ripening ahead of schedule. The winery began harvest on August 12th—early, but necessary to preserve brightness in the ripe fruit. The experienced team worked with alacrity, bringing in nearly three-quarters of their grapes by early September.

The winery completed harvest by September 9th—the earliest finish in winery history, and the juice found its home in a thoughtful selection of French oak barrels, where it matured for ten months. The result is spectacular—rich and textured, with beautiful, drink-another-glass brightness