2023 Caywood Chardonnay
$28
Forge Cellars Caywood Chardonnay 2021
Recognized as one of 30 top US Chardonnays by Decanter Magazine, May 2023
“A crush of stone and earth on the nose leads to zesty lemon, lime and white grapefruit flavours in this vibrantly honed expression of Caywood Vineyard, a historic Seneca lake site planted in the early 1970s. Produced by Rick Rainey and Louis Barruol (of Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas), it’s a thrillingly svelte, concentrated sip with a laser-point, steely finish.
93 pts.”
Riesling will always be the heart of Forge, but with the freedom to work as we please, introducing another noble white variety to our repertoire has been exciting. The opportunity to work with some of Charles Fournier’s original Chardonnay plantings was certainly fortuitous. Since the early days, we’ve maintained an openness to the possibility of producing a Chardonnay with the stipulation that all conditions must be perfect: site, clones, age of vines, etc. In our eleventh vintage, the stars aligned.
There is no question that our Caywood Vineyard has a sparkle to it, a standout in our lineup with Grand Cru distinction. With exceptional freshness vis-à-vis herbs such as thyme, basil, wild carrot, this Chardonnay has a skilled ability to translate a sense of depth from mature vines alongside impeccable lift and vibrancy.
vineyard details
East side Seneca Lake - Lodi
Soils: Honeoye silt loam on shale
Year Planted: 1973
Harvest Date: Oct. 12
Spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrel
Alcohol: 12.4% by vol.
Production: 492 cases