Model Farm P-M Staiger Vineyard Chard from SCM

WINE TALK
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I’m gonna flag @Brian_Tuite @Chris_Seiber and @Mike_Grammer here because of the intersection of this wine with stuff that I know these guys like to drink. Guys, this is right in that Trout Gulch feel, a worthy partner to that wine. Worth trying if you haven’t bought some already. As a side note, I am buying my only CA Cab from Model Farm (it’s the Berger Vineyard), which is a fairly new project for them but is made in style of Cab that I tend to prefer, a bit of older days feel and style. Anyway, a note on the Chard follows if you are interested…

  • 2022 Model Farm Chardonnay P-M Staiger Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (10/27/2024)
    Opened yesterday. Worked through a glass over dinner. The wine showed a mix of toasted oak and citrus peel aroma with some floral. The palate was yellow apple, stone fruit, some vanilla and mineral. My thought was serve this to me blind and I would place it as White Burgundy, as it showed something exotic, electric, how I tend to think about White Burg. Forward a day later, working through another glass. Pretty similar to yesterday, the texture reflects the citrus giving it a lemon oil, with a refreshing mineral, apricot and lime peel finish. Same exotic bouquet of smoke, toast and white flower. Really an awesome bottle of Chard. For those who drink the Kutch Trout Gulch chard from Santa Cruz, this is in that same vein, with the high quality, balance and electricity. This is not to take away from what Joanna and Sean are making here, but instead to offer them a compliment. Excellent work here from Model Farm and I'll be keeping the P-M Staiger in my annual purchases.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Flagging @Brian_Tuite and @Chris_Seiber, you’re a fine friend, Frankie! As I think you know, Joanna used to be Jamie’s assistant, and Sean worked with the Rhys team. I climbed aboard the Model Farm Santa Cruz Chard choo-choo with the first vintage, especially with a stellar vineyard like Staiger. If you want, I can bring an older bottle out with me when I come in March.

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Thanks Frank, order in for a 3-pack. I appreciate the reasonable shipping, makes the per-bottle price a bit easier to manage.

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Have you had a chance to sample SCMV’s Staiger cab?

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@Brian_Tuite Wow, that’s great, Brian. I hope you like the wine as much as I have. Gonna finish the final glass tonight during the game.

@J_Patrick_Lynch No. I don’t buy much still wine anymore, and haven’t run into that wine before. Have you tried it and did you like it?

@Mike_Grammer I wasn’t sure if you still bought the wines or not. It might be hard in March to taste it unless we can get you in a day early or a few days early actually and then do a smaller dinner with some bottles. it’s just so nuts during Falltac to taste and discuss for me.

FWIW, I had forgot I had opened their 22 Wildcat Mountain a few months back. I made the same White Burg reference to that wine, too. Seems like for me their Chards are hitting that French reference that I really like. Here’s the note for those who are interested…

  • 2022 Model Farm Chardonnay Wildcat Mountain Sonoma Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (9/8/2024)
    I'm sold on these Model Farm chards. I had not bought in a few years but decided to jump back in and I am glad I did. This is a cool mix of mineral, lime zest, and a kiss of vanilla from what I guess to be new oak that the wine saw. In fact, the acidity and mineral touch is what defines the wine, supporting the medium weight. Elegant, lightly savory via the citrus and delicious, with a finish of fresh cut apple. On Day 2, this adds some weight, as if the new oak has lifted a creaminess around the spicy lime, and now some pear. It's kind of a cool unctuousness that I dig, which wasn't present yesterday. Some light vanilla bean shows up, which supports the sexy tone it shows today. I don't drink a lot of white burg but this resonated for me as something from that region, with the acidity, mineral, the smart use of new wood and the overall expression just fitting nicely into that style of Chard. This is showing really well and be cool to see how this shows in another 18-24 months.

Posted from CellarTracker

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