Ruffino Alauda Toscana IGT is made from 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 25% Colorino.
An elegant, full-bodied wine, Alauda is a harmonious sum of its parts. Rich with varietal flavors of plum and cherry from the Merlot and layered with ripe berry flavors from the Cabernet Franc, and unique balsamic and dark chocolate notes from the Colorino. The extended oak aging process integrates the blend while providing tertiary flavors of sweet spice and soft, elegant tannins for a lingering finish. This wine will age gracefully for decades.
Ferren Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Winemaker Matt Courtney learned what he knows of Chardonnay on the Sonoma Coast during his eight-year apprenticeship with Helen Turley of Marcassin Vineyards. At Ferren he employs artisan methods crafting his wines in small lots from single-vineyard sources with native fermentation and without fining or filtration. | Falling Bright
Silver Eagle Vineyard rests atop Stoetz Ridge, the land mass that divides the remote Sonoma Coast from the Russian River Valley. This vineyard experiences both the cooling ocean breezes of the nearby Pacific, as well as the warmth of the interior valley. The Chardonnay made from this unique confluence of climates is extraordinary; a fascinating juxtaposition of briny minerality and candied citrus.
Review:
"A stunning, concentrated and expressive Chardonnay, with notes of orange blossoms, candied lemon peel, crunchy star fruit and pear. Offers accents of salted Marcona almond, tarragon and lemon verbena, plus a vibrant thread of acidity, along with lingering hints of white tea, green cardamom and ginger. Drink now through 2037.—M.W.”
- Wine Spectator (May 2025), 95 pts