Hanzell "Sebella" Chardonnay Moon Mountain District 2022

We have been big fans of Hanzell Chardonnay ever since we were introduced to the brand during the early days of ACME. Their Chardonnay has managed to maintain a low profile among the masses while captivating a small group of in-the-know fans with its “cult-like presence” in the industry. High-end restaurants keep tabs on library offers and current releases, knowing each will add a level of prestige to their wine lists. Ambassador James D. Zellerbach founded Hanzell Vineyards in 1953 with a vision to create wines that could compete on the world stage. Named after his wife Hana, Hanzell sits at the southern toe of the Mayacamas mountain range overlooking the south-western end of Sonoma Valley and San Pablo Bay. After extensive time spent in Burgundy, Zellerbach returned inspired and educated by the region’s wines. He was a pioneer, planting Burgundian varieties at a time when there were barely a few hundred acres of each planted in North America. Since 1975, Hanzell has been owned solely by the de Brye family, who are dedicated to preserving tradition with a progressive and holistic approach. As California Chardonnay embraced bold, oaky excess in the '90s, Hanzell held its ground—crafting elegant, powerful wines that are reserved early on before evolving into something extraordinary with age.

Many of the techniques used today were implemented early on at Hanzell - including temperature-controlled stainless steel fermenters, fermenting and bottling using inert gases, inducing malolactic conversion (with assistance of UC Davis professor John Ingraham), and using small French oak barrels.

From young vines, this precise and focused Chardonnay has "aromas of flint, lemon confit, orange oil, and hazelnuts. The palate is mid-weighted with vivid acidity and a textural but delicate mouthfeel. 100% stainless steel fermentation, followed by six months in old French oak, has maintained lovely freshness and tension that has set the wine up for aging."
95 points James Suckling