Our 12th Vintage Crafting Soulful California Wines
MaĆ®tre de Chai ā translated to āKeeper of the Cellarā ā started in 2012 by friends Marty Winters and Alex Pitts with a single barrel of wine from Steve Matthiassonās Michael Mara Vineyard. Today, we produce several single vineyard sparkling and still wines from old vine (often 50-100 year old vines), mostly dry farmed, organic vineyards. Our ethos is centered around showcasing beautiful vineyards that are farmed impeccably by small, often multi-generational families. We work with heritage California grape varieties, and in the cellar we take a low intervention approach to craft wine emblematic of California with native yeast fermentations and no additions outside of sulfur.
CRITIC REVIEWS:
āI was super impressed with the wines I tasted from MaĆ®tre de Chai. Marty Winters and Alex Pitts met as young chefs working in some of Californiaās most prestigious kitchens. Over the years, both of their career paths led to wine. Winters and Pitts founded MaĆ®tre de Chai in 2012 and have quietly built their range since then. The wines draw from a number of sites across several appellations in northern California, all done in a style that emphasizes freshness and verve. As readers will discover, a number of wines in this lineup are truly compelling, most notably the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard, which may very well be the single best value in Napa Valley Cabernet today.ā
- Antonio Galloni, From 2022 Sonoma Preview: A First Look (Jan 2024)
"Their Maitre de Chai winery brings a fresh take to Californiaās old vinesā ā¦ āTheir takes on those classics feel fresh and novel, from an insistently floral Zinfandel from Lodiās Stampede Vineyard to their hauntingly mineral Sparkling Chardonnay Solera from Sonomaās Michael Mara Vineyard.ā
- Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle: 2019 Winemakers to Watch
āThe MaĆ®tre de Chai, though, seemed to be a wine of a particular place, earthier and more mineral, with focused fruit and floral flavors and a pleasant touch of tannināā¦ āThe third bottle, from MaĆ®tre de Chai ā French for cellar master ā stood out. It was a single-vineyard wine, unlike the others, from grapes grown on decomposed granite soils in Clement Hills, a small viticultural area in the southeast part of Lodi.ā
- Eric Asimov, New York Times: Finding the Heart of Zinfandel
THE DETAILS:
As you read through the offers below and think, āI only want a bottle of Sparkling Chenin Blanc,ā or āI ABSOLUTELY HATE Chardonnayā ā¦ TODAY AND TODAY ONLY with you will receive $10 shipping on all case purchases (12+ bottles) and discounts ranging from XX-XX% off.
Want Free Shipping??? If you Purchase any Magnum your entire order will ship for FREE.
Because this community has been so amazing to us, we are releasing our recent 96 point 2021 Gala Napa Cabernet a few months early.
This will be the FIRST TIME this wine will be available for sale after the recent rave review where Galloni said: the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyardā¦may very well be the single best value in Napa Valley Cabernet today.
MORE INFO ON THE WINES in the words of Antonio Galloni: Read on for more information on each of the wines available in our offer. But you can always find more information on our website.
THE OFFERS
OFFER 1: Library Magnum Madness ā XX% off all MDC Magnums + Free Shipping
For the first time EVER we are opening up our deep library of magnums - check out our online shop for our full inventory as there are too many to list here! Selections include some of our first vintages, many of which have been sold out in 750ml for years (and are over a decade old and showing beautifully).
OFFER 2: 12-BOTTLE MDC Starter Pack**
2x V.21 Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg (AG 90)
2x 2022 Ellison Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Mountain - (AG 93)
2x 2021 Wheeler Chardonnay, San Benito - (AG 89)
2x 2022 Red Table Wine, Lodi (AG 89)
2x 2022 Stampede Zinfandel, Clements HIlls (AG 93)
2x 2021 Gala Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (AG 96)
REGULAR PRICE: $432
BD15 PRICE: $XXX & $10 flat-rate shipping
OFFER 3: FULL CASE DISCOUNTS! up XX% off select wines
MIX AND MATCH ā get the sale price of these two wines with any order of 12 bottles or more
2021 Wheeler Vineyard Chardonnay, San Benito
REGULAR PRICE: $360/cs ā $30/btl
BD15 PRICE: $XXX/cs or $XX/btl
- 12x 2022 āBuckaroosā RosĆ© of Zinfandel, Clements Hills
REGULAR PRICE: $336/cs ā $28/btl
BD15 PRICE: $XXX/cs or $XX/btl
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THE WINES:
Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Wilson Vineyard, Clarksburg 11.5% ABV: The vines were planted in 1998 and the hallmark of the site is electric acidity. A Traditional Method Sparkling wine, made in the style of Champagne, but distinctly Californian. Our intent is to produce an approachable American sparkling wine that showcases the versatility of Chenin Blanc in California. From Antonio Galloni: āThe NV (base 2021) Sparkling Chenin Blanc Wilson Vineyard is superb. Creamy and understated, with tons of varietal character, this is wonderfully inviting. Bright acids, pear, chamomile and mint are some of the notes that take shape. Bottling under low pressure yields a very fine mousse. The only thing this could use is more persistence on the finish, but it is undoubtedly well done. Dosage is 2 grams per liter.ā (90pts)
2022 Ellison Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Mountain 14% ABV: The Ellison Vineyard (formerly the Herron Vineyard), was planted in 1969 and is comprised of an acre and a half of Sauvignon Blanc on Sonoma Mountain. This dry-farmed vineyard is one of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc parcels in the United States. After a long, dry winter in 2022, we saw an early bud break on the south slopes of Sonoma Mountain. Spring was mild, and a warm summer followed. On August 27th, we picked our ninth vintage from these 53-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines. Whole-cluster pressed & fermented in neutral oak, the wine is everything youād want from a textural California Sauvignon Blanc. Lime, Guava and crenshaw melon highlight a strong mineral backbone with bright acidity. Drink now, but as always, save a few for the cellar. From Antonio Galloni: The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Ellison Vineyard emerges from a site on Sonoma Mountain, one of the most distinctive appellations in Sonoma Valley. Rich and ample, with notable textural intensity, the 2022 is superb. Readers will find a Sauvignon Blanc of uncommon complexity and pedigree. The riper side of the variety comes through, and yet all the elements are so well balanced. Itās a fabulous wine in every way, especially for the year. Donāt miss it. (93pts)
2021 Wheeler Chardonnay, San Benito County 13.5% ABV: Our Wheeler Vineyard Chardonnay was planted in 1974 on AXR1 rootstock. Planted on a gravelly alluvial terrace located a stoneās throw from the town of Tres Pinos in the San Benito AVA. 2021 was our first vintage working with this historic site and we couldnāt be happier with the wine. Whole cluster pressed and fermented in neutral oak barrels, producing a powerful, textured Chardonnay with all of the acidity youād expect from a cool climate, old vine vineyard such as Wheeler. From Antonio Galloni: The 2021 Chardonnay Wheeler Vineyard is a potent, savory wine that shows the more earthy side of Chardonnay, with primary fruit pushed into the background. This site, planted in 1971 on limestone, yields a distinctive Chardonnay. Dried pear, spice, chamomile and dried herbs linger. This is a fine debut. (89pts)
2022 Stampede Zinfandel, Clements Hills 12.6% ABV: Zinfandel can be notoriously difficult to work with due to its inherent uneven ripening. This year marks nine vintages of working with the Perlegos Family. The 2022 vintage from the Stampede Vineyard is one that speaks to the āTrue North Starā of the MaĆ®tre de Chai wines. We have always set out to craft a Zinfandel that has structured tannins, bright acidity and that speaks to the soil in which the vines are rooted and the 2022 vintage checks all of these boxes. Harvested on August 28th, fermented with native yeasts in a mix of whole cluster andde-stemmed open top fermentations. Aged exclusively in 500L puncheons for 14 months before being bottled with no fining or filtration. Strawberry, plum and raspberry with a touch of cola and licorice round out a bright finish with subtle texture but sturdy tannins. The finesse of this wine makes it drinkable now, but will age for years to come. From Antonio Galloni: The 2022 Zinfandel Stampede Vineyard is fabulous. It is sourced from a site in Lodi planted in the 1920s. Pliant and supple, with gorgeous balance, the 2022 impresses right out of the gate. The combination of vibrant fruit and light to medium-bodied structure makes for an absolutely compelling Zinfandel. There is a purity to this wine that is so striking. The body and textural feel reminds me of wines from the 1950s and 1960s that I have tasted, naturally as mature wines. (93pts)
2021 Gala Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.2%: 30 year old, terraced vines. Amazing mountaintop fruit from Mount George on the eastern side of the Napa Valley. South of Atlas Peak, and just above Coombsville at the beginning of the Vaca Mountain Range. The vineyard is currently farmed organic and is in transition into Biodynamic farming. From Antonio Galloni: The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard is fabulous. It emerges from a terraced vineyard at 1,800 feet in elevation in Napa Valley, just above the Coombsville AVA. Rich, dark and beautifully structured, the 2021 possesses notable pedigree and character. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, bay leaf and espresso all race across the palate. Readers who enjoy old-school Napa Cabernets will adore this. This wine, if sold in Napa Valley, would cost four to five times as much. Donāt miss it! (96pts)
SHIPPING DETAILS: All orders will ship ASAP exclusively though FedEx ā We are a small but mighty team and handle all of our shipping direct from the winery. We hope to fulfill all orders within a week, so take that into account when placing your order.
PLACES WE DONāT SHIP: AL, AK, HI, KY, TN, ND, SD, UT, WY. All other states are good to go!
After an order is placed we cannot make any changes to that order. If you have questions about your order, please email info@mdc.wine and weād be happy to help.
WHATāS THE SHIPPING COST?: Flat Rate $10 and free shipping on magnums
SALES TAXES: Sales tax will automatically be added to your order at checkout.
Thank you for this opportunity to share our wines and for the opportunity to participate! Without you and Wine Berserkers, this would not be possible. If you have any questions, donāt hesitate to reach out: info@mdc.wine
Marty & Alex
