Michael Cruse came to winemaking from a background in science. In 2008 he set up a winery in Petaluma, CA, where he built a custom grape crushing facility and launched his Champagne inspired Sparkling wine project, Ultramarine. In 2013 he established Cruse Wine Co., to create proudly Californian wines.
This Chardonnay wine hails from the Sierra Foothills just outside of the town of Murphys, Sonoma County. The 50+ year old vines grow in schist soils over a limestone bedrock, sitting at 2,200 feet in altitude. The fruit from these low yielding vines is hand harvested and gently pressed using a long Champagne press cycle. The juice is transferred to neutral barrels for a long, slow, spontaneous fermentation, with no added sulfur. The wine is bottled after 18 months with a minimal amount of sulphur added.
Intense and full of character, with notes of orange and lemon peel and white flowers, a rich mouthfeel and stony minerality, reflecting its rocky and wild origins.