Arista Winery
Chardonnay Banfield Vineyard Russian River Valley
The Banfield Vineyard Chardonnay comes from the northern edge of the Green Valley, a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley. The location of this vineyard is ideal for growing Chardonnay due to the cooling influence of coastal fog. This dry farmed vineyard was planted in 1980 to the Wente Selection of Chardonnay. From perhaps the coldest reaches of the Russian River AVA, this wine demonstrates a singular nerve and precision.
The Banfield Vineyard Chardonnay comes from the northern edge of the Green Valley, a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley. The location of this vineyard is ideal for growing Chardonnay due to the cooling influence of coastal fog. This dry farmed vineyard was planted in 1980 to the Wente Selection of Chardonnay, a highly prized selection of Chardonnay know for its small, loose clusters and intensely flavored grapes. The 30+ year old vines are rare in the Russian River Valley and produce lower yields per acre. What’s lost in tonnage is more than compensated for in flavor and quality as is evidenced through the wines produced year after year. The combination of site and vine age represent a truly unique and distinct vineyard that we are proud to work with.
- Region
- California: Russian River Valley
- Appellation
- Russian River Valley
- Varietal Composition
- Chardonnay
- Aging
- 100% Chardonnay, the wine undergoes 12 months of fermentation and aging in barrels, followed by 4-6 months in stainless steel, and it is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
- Alcohol
- 14.3%
Classic Banfield notes of candied citrus and caramelized sugar are present in abundance. As the wine opens up, more exotic elements of kiwi and grilled pineapple become apparent. A citrus-inflected minerality gives the finish a tangy lift and keeps things lively and balanced.
Wine Advocate
96 Points
2021
"The 2021 Chardonnay Banfield Vineyard is very impressive! Initial tones of matchstick give way to detailed scents of white peach, panna cotta, hazelnut and crème brûlée. The first sip bursts with powerful, honeyed fruit and alluring flinty undertones. It has a fantastically satiny texture that coats the mouth before its linear acidity takes center stage, and it finishes with tremendous length. Generous yet effortlessly balanced, it will be long lived in the cellar."
— Erin Brooks, 2024
