Lot 98 is the 2023 Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay from Ernest Vineyards — the same producer as Lots 82 and 85, confirmed directly by Cam — earning 97 points from Decanter and described as the best vintage of the Joyce Vineyard yet. Released alongside Lot 99 as a pair of Ernest Vineyards shiners. Claude’s source guess is Ernest Vineyards, confirmed by Cam. See also: Lot 4, Lot 82, Lot 83, Lot 84, Lot 85, Lot 99.
Lot Overview
- Region: 100% West Sonoma Coast (Joyce Vineyard, Freestone-Occidental, Goldridge soil, Clone 5, organically farmed)
- Vintage: 2023
- Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
- Oak Aging: 40% new French oak puncheons, 20 months, then 6 weeks stainless
- Alcohol: 12.7%, Brix at harvest: 21.2
- Cases Available: Not stated (shiner format)
- Cam Price: ~$12.50/bottle ($149/case)
- Retail Estimate: $85/bottle (tasting room)
- Claude’s Source Guess: Ernest Vineyards — Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay, West Sonoma Coast (confirmed by Cam; same producer as Lots 82 & 85)
- Wine Berserkers Guess:
- Drink Window: Late 2025–2036 (peak 2026–2032)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Howdy Folks,
OHHH boy, you are not gonna believe what I have for you today!
This one just came over the transom folks. I’ve only got a couple pallets of each so you’ll want to move quickly.
On offer today are two single-vineyard designate 2023 SHINERS from Ernest Vineyards. The wines are absolutely fantastic, top-of-the-line, $85-$95/bottle offerings both now INSANELY priced at just $149/case!
Before we dive into the details I need to clarify something: what I am offering you today is not to be confused with the entry-level, $38/bottle Ernest Vineyards Sonoma Coast bottlings you see in the marketplace now being discounted and closed out. I have passed on those wines. What you are getting here is the good stuff (I know from the producer, but you will know when you pick up a bottle, high-end closures and very different, heavy glass versus the entry-level bottlings).
First up is the gorgeous Lot 98 2023 West Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. This shiner is the 2023 Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay bottling which retails for $85/bottle out of the tasting room. With a 97-point score from Decanter’s Ana Carolina Quintela, this is an amazing offer at just $149/case! I promise you, this is an absolutely gorgeous wine. Incredible complexity, energy, balance and verve.
Tasting Notes
CURRENTLY IN SHINER FORMAT — LABELING PLANNED LATE SEPTEMBER
Lot 98 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a shiner sourced from the same producer I recently sourced Lots 82 and 85 2024 Chardonnays. This is their 2023 Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay bottling which retails for $85/bottle out of the tasting room.
The producer has 93- to 95-point scores from Galloni, Dunnuck, Suckling and the Wine Enthusiast for their 2021 and 2022’s (which is an accomplishment given how hot 2022 was) but the 2023 was the best of them all (and, yes, I have tasted them all).
I have been sipping away at this bottle for over a week now and it just continues to get better. I promise you, it is an absolutely gorgeous wine. Incredible complexity, energy, balance and verve. As the company’s path was cut short, the 2023 Joyce Vineyard only has the following review as far as I can tell…by the way, the Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay bottling is not to be confused with their regular Sonoma Coast Chardonnay bottling (which received a 95-point score from James Suckling but isn’t as good as the Joyce by a good margin, trust me, I have tasted both).
Decanter — 97 Points, Ana Carolina Quintela: “There is a sense of momentum with the Joyce Chardonnay; the 2023 repeats the elegance of its past vintage but brings an even more impressive energy, thanks to a cold, late-ripening season that kept the fruit on the vine until the end of October. Grown in the region’s iconic, powdery Goldridge soils with direct coastal influence, and surrounded by redwoods and wild pennyroyal, the wine’s environment clearly shows in its aromatics. A distinct saltiness hits the nose first, followed by richer notes of wildflower honey, crisp apples, and Meyer lemons that also run through the palate. This balance is a result of winemaking decisions that start with a hard press of the clusters to incorporate more solids, a move that builds a deep, physical structure and manages pH enough to hold up the acidity levels of this marginal site. The wine then spends 20 months in puncheons (one-third new French oak) before moving to stainless steel for six weeks to settle before bottling. This is a wine that has weight and texture but doesn’t feel heavy, finishing with a persistent saline snap, a clean lift, and a cooling herbal edge. Truly delicious.” 11/25
About The Wine
Canary yellow and crystalline in the glass, this Chardonnay carries both brightness and viscosity. Sourced from Joyce Vineyard, perched in the cool coastal reaches of the West Sonoma Coast, the wine channels the site’s ocean influence and mineral-driven soils. Aromas of sea breeze, pink lady apple, and wild herbs rise with clarity. The palate is finely focused, delivering Meyer lemon curd and a subtle reduction that marries seamlessly with salinity and oceanic minerality. Precision, tension, and site-specific acidity define this wine, offering a brilliant example of Chardonnay shaped by the Pacific’s proximity.
About The Vineyard
On the ridge just above Freestone Valley, linked together in chilly fog, sits Joyce Vineyard. Ernest leased and began farming the site organically in 2017. At only 3-acres and planted entirely to Chardonnay, it is the smallest property we farm and one of the very coldest. Goldridge soil predominates and Clone 5 of Chardonnay will perennially deliver citrus flavors and bright acidity in this environment.
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Currently in shiner format — labeling planned late September 2026. Allow until late 2026 minimum after bottling.
Claude’s Source Guess: Ernest Vineyards — Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay, West Sonoma Coast (confirmed by Cam)
Cam confirms this directly — same producer as Lots 82 and 85, specifically their Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay bottling. This is now the fifth Ernest Vineyards lot in the CAM X catalog (Lots 4, 82, 83, 84, 85, and now 98), representing Cam’s ongoing acquisition of Ernest’s barrel inventory following the winery’s closure in 2025/2026. The 2023 Joyce Vineyard is the standout vintage — 97 points from Decanter, described by Cam as better than the already-acclaimed 2021 and 2022 vintages that earned 93-95 points from Galloni, Dunnuck, Suckling and Wine Enthusiast. The 12.7% alcohol and West Sonoma Coast coastal character make this one of the most elegant whites in the entire CAM X catalog.
✅ Confidence: Confirmed — producer and vineyard named directly by Cam.
Drink Window
Early: Late 2026 — currently in shiner, labeling planned September 2026, needs integration time post-bottling.
Peak: 2027–2032. Joyce Vineyard Clone 5 Chardonnay at 12.7% alc with 20-month puncheon aging has a genuine Burgundian aging arc.
Hold: 2036. The 97-point Decanter score and site-specific acidity support a solid decade.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: Late 2026–2036 (peak 2027–2032)