Cole Thomas and his team from Madson Wine in Santa Cruz are young winemakers to keep your eye on. In only a few short years, they've managed to secure access to a bevy of amazing fruit sources in the Santa Cruz Mountains, from a variety of elevations and locations, and turn that fruit into pure gold.
Case in point: the 2021 Madson Misty Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay.
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. Farming these high-elevation sites is not easy and the vines are difficult to access.
The care it takes to harvest these grapes properly is ultimately what you're paying for–and it's worth every penny!
At just 31 years of age, Cole is a born-and-raised Santa Cruz local continuing the traditions of the generations before him. Inspired by the legacy of winemakers like Martin Ray, he's hyper focused on working naturally and hell bent on expressing the essence of what these legendary mountains have to offer.
Madson Misty Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 2021 - $39.99
93 POINTS: VINOUS - 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.
MISSION NOTES: The aromatic notes of white lilies, kiwi, and chamomile are a thing of beauty with this wine. There are fewer than 100 cases of Misty Gulch Chardonnay made 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.