2012 The Wonderland Project “La Reine Blance” (The White Queen) Sonoma County Chardonnay

13.2% alc., residual sugar 0.02 mg, 1,400 cases, $24. Released June 2013. Clone 76 and Robert Young selection. Staggered picks at 21º to 23.5º Brix to control acid. Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel, 100% MLF, aged 8 months in 1/3 new French oak, 1/3 neutral French oak and 1/3 stainless steel. Primarily a restaurant wine meant to be a refined wine at accessible cost but also sold on the winery’s website. Winemaker is former sommelier Matthew Ahern (also of Scribe). · Light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Clean aromas of lemon curd, honey, spiced peach, papaya, honeysuckle and vanilla bean. Easy to drink with enough acidity to add juiciness, featuring flavors of peach, marzipan, and spice. Slightly creamy and soft in the mouth, with the faintest compliment of oak. A highly enjoyable, nicely balanced, no-nonsense, casual wine that doesn’t weigh you down with alcohol and oak. The ideal proverbial back porch wine. Score: 90. Reviewed April 19, 2014

Winery: The Wonderland Project
From article: Recent Sips of Chardonnay