Lancel Creek is a secluded two-acre vineyard perched above the tiny hamlet of Occidental on the remote Sonoma Coast. The pale, off-white Goldridge soil provides just enough nutrients and moisture for these densely planted vines to ripen a small amount of intensely aromatic and flavorful Chardonnay. The vineyard faces the Pacific Ocean, a mere five miles to the west. The combined influence of the cold Pacific and the warming afternoon sun produces a wine of incredible richness and sublime balance.
Soil types: Goldridge, fine sandy loam.
Age of the vines: 15 years
"Crushed lemon, poached pear, hazelnuts, and white flowers as well as incredible minerality emerge from the 2018 Chardonnay Lancel Creek Vineyard, one of the finest Sonoma Coast Chardonnay I've ever tasted. Intense, full-bodied, stunningly concentrated, and yet still ethereal and elegant, with incredible class and length on the palate, this is another sensational, magical Chardonnay from Ferren that should age nicely for 10-12 years, and I suspect even longer."
- Jeb Dunnuck (Sonoma: Looking at the 2019s, July 22nd 2021), 98 pts
"Broad aromas and full, layered flavors of ripe pineapple, white florals, acacia, creamy vanilla oak and soft acidity. An opulent, oaky style but the oak is well integrated and balanced with the weight of fruit, and the finish boasts crisp citrus acidity. - Ronan Sayburn MS"
- Decanter (September 2021), 93 pts
"Last of the Chardonnays, the 2017 Chardonnay Lancel Creek Vineyard offers a Chassagne-Montrachet-like bouquet of white flowers, crushed limestone, buttered pineapple, citrus oil, and liquid rock-like minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully concentrated, it comes close to matching the magical 2016 and is a tour de force in Sonoma Coast Chardonnay that's as good as anything in the vintage. Hats off to winemaker Matt Courtney for another incredible Chardonnay!"
- Jeb Dunnuck (Sonoma: Another Brilliant Vintage in 2018, July 22nd 2021), 99 pts
"The 2017 Chardonnay Lancel Creek is powerful and resonant, yet also retains striking translucence. Lemon confit, honeysuckle, wild flowers and lightly honeyed notes all grace this exquisite Chardonnay. Even with all of its obvious texture, the Lancel Creek is translucent and light on its feet. The 2017 is rich but not overdone in any way. What a beautiful wine it is. - Antonio Galloni"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (January 2020), 94 pts
"Custard notes accent the decadently ripe, lavishly spiced apple and pear flavors. The creamy texture on the finish is loaded with buttery and toasty richness. Drink now through 2024. - Kim MARKUS"
- Wine Spectator Insider (April 8th 2020), 93 pts
"Flirting with perfection, the 2016 Chardonnay Lancel Creek Vineyard offers a touch more zip in its crushed lemon, white flowers, mint, and honeysuckle, aromas and flavors. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, yet just incredibly pure, this is a heavenly Chardonnay that's getting up there with the crème de la crème in the vintage. Tasting like a Grand Cru Chablis on Steroids, it's going to continue drinking beautifully for over a decade. It's a wow wine and should be sought out by readers. The Chardonnay of the vintage?"
- Jeb Dunnuck (The 2017s From Sonoma, July 22nd 2021), 99 pts
"The 2016 Chardonnay Lancel Creek Vineyard has a very pretty nose of honeysuckle, wet stone and freshly cut hay with a core of Golden Delicious apples and lemon curd plus hazelnut and honey toast sparks. Medium to full-bodied, it's wonderfully pure in the mouth—apples, nuts and honey—with juicy acidity, finishing long and clean. 125 cases produced.- Erin Brooks"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #242, April 2019), 94 pts
"The 2016 Chardonnay Lancel Creek is a rich, exuberant wine. A veil of reduction adds freshness to the ample, creamy fruit, while baked apple tart, pear, white FLowers and mint add striking aromatic top notes to this rich, beautifully textured Chardonnay. Simply gorgeous."
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2018), 94 pts
"White fruit confit flavors are matched to lemon meringue and savory accents in this full-bore style. Dried mango details show on the slightly tannic finish, revealing intense spicy notes. Drink now through 2024. - K.M."
- Wine Spectator (May 1st 2019), 93 pts
"Rich and full-bodied, with bold, assertive yet graceful fig, melon, apricot and tangerine notes, showing a nice oak dimension and ending long, deep, complex and persistent. Drink now through 2022. 110 cases made. – JL"
- Wine Spectator (June 2018), 93 pts
Matt Courtney and David Wherritt founded Ferren, a Sonoma Coast winery, in 2013, after an eight-year apprenticeship with the famous Helen Turley of Marcassin. Ferren is dedicated to producing tiny ...
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