2022 DuMOL Chardonnay Chloe Russian River Valley 750 ml

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 2022 Chloe Chardonnay, which comprises Montrachet, Hyde-Wente, and Mt. Eden Chardonnay clones. DuMOL is known for their impeccable vineyard sites, and 40% of this wine hails from DuMOL’s Bressay Estate Vineyard, with the rest split between El Diablo and Flora Marie. 

El Diablo and Flora Marie overlook the Russian River, sitting on gravelly loam soils. They provide the deep fruit, as they are the first vineyards that DuMOL harvests every year. Bressay Estate, in Russian River’s cool Green Valley sub-AVA, and it produces lean, lively grapes that bring tense structure and acidity to the wine. 

This range of plantings from varied soils, densities, and elevations provides a picture-perfect snapshot of a fantastic vintage in California’s most acclaimed Chardonnay. Smith ushered the wine along by fermenting and aging it for 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels from Tonnellerie Damy, followed by six months in tank. 

One Wine Access member called DuMOL“one of the best Chardonnay wines I have ever had the pleasure of drinking.” This is our first-ever allocation of Chloe, a bottle that will give a visceral thrill to any Chardonnay lover. It’s impossible to spend smarter in the world of blue-chip California Chardonnay.