Limestone-Spired Chenin from Chalone
2023 Russell Joyce Chenin Blanc Rodnik Farm
Organic hillside fruit, razor-sharp minerality, Central Coast flair
If you’re seeking a white wine that blends California brilliance with Old World finesse, look no further than the 2023 Russell Joyce Chenin Blanc “Rodnick Farm” from the high-elevation slopes of the Chalone AVA. This single-vineyard bottling comes from the certified‐organic...
Read the full story →
Certified-organic Rodnick Farm vineyard on Chalone high slopes
Barrel-fermented, bone-dry Chenin Blanc with Loire elegance
Retail
$40.00
Best Online
$30.99
Our price
$30.00
$10 off
Retail
Free shipping on orders over $99
White Wine Body Profile
Body
Balanced
Feather-light
Lifted
Balanced
Structured
Powerful
Grapes
100% Chenin Blanc
Alcohol
13.5%
Serving temp
46
–
53°F
Drinking Window
2025
–
2032
Tasting notes
Aroma
Lifted and precise: white peach, lime-zest, pear skin and honeysuckle lead the way, followed by crushed seashell/mineral dust, white blossoms and subtle match-stick reduction giving tension and intrigue.
Palate
Medium-bodied yet lithe: vibrant citrus (lemon curd, key lime), orchard fruit (Bosc pear, quince) and a core of chalky limestone minerality. Bright acidity carries through to a long, saline-tinged finish with a hint of wild herb and brioche. Ages beautifully.
Limestone-Spired Chenin from Chalone
If you’re seeking a white wine that blends California brilliance with Old World finesse, look no further than the 2023 Russell Joyce Chenin Blanc “Rodnick Farm” from the high-elevation slopes of the Chalone AVA. This single-vineyard bottling comes from the certified‐organic Rodnick Farm (1600-1900 ft elevation) where vines cling to chalky limestone and decomposed granite — the same terroir that made Chalone famous for minerally whites.
Under the hands of winemaker Russell Joyce, this Chenin Blanc receives minimal intervention: barrel-fermented in neutral oak, short sur-lie aging, bottled early to retain freshness and vibrancy. The result is a wine of crystalline clarity, haunting mineral spine, and layered depth. As one review put it, the Rodnick Chenin “seduces the palate … with crisp layering of citrus and stone fruit, vibrant acidity, liquid mineral and chalky notes.”
What sets the 2023 vintage apart? According to vintners in Chalone, it offered a long hang-time, cool nights, and full ripening without excessive heat. This gives wines like this one both immediate appeal and serious aging potential. In the glass you’ll see pale gold with green-tinged highlights. On the nose: white peach, lime blossom, pear skin, saline-tinged crushed stone and a spark of white flowers. The palate is taut and electric — lemon curd meets vintage orchard, quince, chalk dust and a lingering herb-driven finish. The acid is laser-sharp but never harsh; tannins are barely noticeable but structure is unmistakable.
Drink now to enjoy the vibrant fruit and minerality; cellar 5–8 years to watch secondary nuance develop: hazelnut, brioche and subtle oxidation notes balanced by that unshakable limestone backbone. In short: this is Chenin Blanc elevated — California cool-coast, old-world soul. Whether you’re building a serious white-wine collection or simply want your next white to be more than just “drinkable,” this bottling is a standout.
Small production, cult vineyard, exemplary vineyard-to-bottle transparency. If the Rodnick Farm Chenin becomes as sought-after as some of the top Loire bottlings, you’ll want to be in early.
