Lot 65 is a single-vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from 53-year-old dry-farmed vines just outside Occidental — Cam calls it perhaps the finest Chardonnay he has ever bottled and compares it favorably to Lot 4. Claude’s source guess is Marnet Wines, Daniel Ricciato winemaker. See also: Lot 66.
Lot Overview
- Region: 100% Sonoma Coast (single vineyard, just outside Occidental)
- Vintage: 2024
- Varietal: 100% Chardonnay (53-year-old dry-farmed vines)
- Oak Aging: ~20% new French oak
- Alcohol: 13.9%, pH 3.5, TA 5.6 g/L, Malic 0.13 g/L, Lactic 1.44 g/L
- Cases Available: ~125
- Cam Price: ~$12.50/bottle ($149/case)
- Retail Estimate: $60+/bottle
- Claude’s Source Guess: Marnet Wines — Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (Daniel Ricciato winemaker; same producer as Lot 66)
- Wine Berserkers Guess:
- Drink Window: 2026–2034 (peak 2027–2031)
Cameron’s Release Notes
You’re probably tired of me saying this is the best whatever I have ever bottled blah blah blah so I won’t do that here and will just let this one stand on its own.
Crafted from 53-year-old, dry-farmed Chardonnay vines just outside of Occidental in the Sonoma Coast appellation, Lot 65 is an ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL, MIND-BLOWING Lot 65 2024 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay — Burgundy-meets-California styled beauty!
Gorgeously aromatic and just dripping with mouthwatering minerality, this is perhaps the finest Chardonnay I have ever put into the bottle, certainly in the top 3! (oops, there I went and did it anyway). There’s not much I can say about the producer other than they know more about vineyard sourcing on the north coast than just about anyone and the winemaking is, without a doubt, world-class.
Normally priced for just over $60/bottle (actually a decent value given the wine scores in the mid-90’s!), Lot 65 2024 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay can be yours for the quite reasonable price of just $149/case!
This wine is every bit as good as, if not better than, Lot 4 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (personally, I think it’s better and I know it’s less expensive). If you missed Lot 4, then you won’t want to miss this Lot 65. Quite frankly, for those of you of the gorgeous, mouthwatering Burgundian persuasion of California Chardonnay, this is a don’t miss either way.
Tasting Notes
Pale gold with a hint of green in the glass. Grilled Meyer lemon, apricot, pineapple, beeswax and brioche burst forth, framed by jasmine and honeysuckle blossoms all riding a beam of citrus-dusted crushed slate. Beautifully textured on the palate with perfectly ripe fruit, absolutely glorious, mouthwatering viscosity backed with lemon oil and sweet-tart crusted acidity providing incredible tension. The finish is chock full of toasty lemon and lemon cream pie notes echoing for seemingly forever in a beautiful finish. Seductive and dense with outrageous texture, mouthfeel, and chiseled precision, this is a hell of a compelling Chardonnay. Mind-blowing, actually.
Folks, there are only 125 cases available so click here to grab yours before it’s gone!
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Wine Future — bottling today, shipping April. Allow minimum 60-90 days post-bottling.
Claude’s Source Guess: Marnet Wines — Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (Daniel Ricciato winemaker; same producer as Lot 66)
Marnet Wines is a boutique Sonoma Coast producer helmed by winemaker Daniel Ricciato, known for small-production, single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from exceptional North Coast vineyard sources. Cam’s description of a producer who “knows more about vineyard sourcing on the north coast than just about anyone” fits Ricciato’s deep sourcing relationships across Sonoma’s premier appellations. The 53-year-old dry-farmed vines just outside Occidental, mid-90s scores, $60+ retail, and Burgundian style are all consistent with Marnet’s documented approach. Cam confirmed the same producer for Lot 66 McDougall Ranch Pinot Noir, making this Marnet’s Chardonnay program companion to that lot.
✅ Confidence: Medium-High — same producer as Lot 66 (Marnet, confirmed by Cam), North Coast sourcing expertise, Occidental-adjacent vineyard, 53-year-old dry-farmed vines, mid-90s scores, and $60+ retail all consistent with Marnet’s known program.
Drink Window
Early: 2026 — Wine Future, shipping April 2025, needs 60-90 days minimum post-bottling.
Peak: 2027–2031. Sonoma Coast old vine Chardonnay at 13.9% alc and 20% new oak peaks 3–7 years from vintage.
Hold: 2034. The 5.6 TA and old vine concentration give this solid medium-term aging.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: 2026–2034 (peak 2027–2031) the long haul.