A recent article in the New York Times referenced the wine industry’s youth problem, writing “the wine industry as a whole has to take steps to inspire curiosity and intrigue about wine” in order to appeal to younger generations. Clearly, they weren’t talking about Cole Thomas and the team from Madson Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains as part of the issue.
If there’s a cooler, more inspirational young winery that’s making wines this exciting and electrifying in our industry, we haven’t heard of it. Billed as organic in the vineyard and natural in the cellar, the boot-strapped Madson operation is showcasing some of the most impressive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay expressions to come out of Northern California this year. Madson is the litmus test for credibility and heart at the moment, which has made it a rising star with the wine intelligentsia.
What makes them so amazing? A commitment to real, hands-on farming with every vineyard they lease, resulting in fresh and zesty flavor profiles with honest intensity. Low in alcohol, vibrant with acidity, and utterly ethereal in their profiles, the entire Madson portfolio is worth getting excited about, but if there’s one singular expression worth diving in for headfirst, we think this is it: the 2021 Misty Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay.
93 POINTS: WINE ENTHUSIAST - Tightly alkaline aromas of chalk and lime pith meet with crushed sandstone and a hint of citrus on the nose of this bottling. The palate is all about the firm structural grip, which weaves through flavors of almond and lemon peel.
Misty Gulch Vineyard sits in the Portola Valley at the base of a gap that earns the name Windy Hill from the maritime breeze that blows east and west. The salinity and purity of the Chardonnay being grown here has to be tasted to be believed and has garnered rave reviews from critics everywhere, including recently at the Wine Enthusiast. The aromatic notes of white lilies, kiwi, and chamomile are a thing of beauty. There are fewer than 100 cases of Misty Gulch Chardonnay made annually and the winery is already sold out. We hope those of you who take the plunge down this hedonistic rabbit hole enjoy the few bottles we have available today.
All of our current inventory is in our shipping warehouse, if you would like to purchase and pick up at a store, select Shipping at checkout to have the order transferred to your preferred location.