2019 Backstage Chardonnay Slippery Slope Vineyard Russian River Valley Sonoma County 750 ml

From the small, family-owned Backstage Winery, the 2019 Slippery Slope Vineyard Chardonnay is a brilliant rendering of the Russian River Valley’s cool, foggy hillsides. It’s crisp and precise, with gorgeous citrus fruit balanced by refreshing acidity and just a kiss of butter and exotic spice. 

The vines rooted in the Slippery Slope Vineyard’s sandy loam soils spend their mornings under a wispy blanket of Russian River fog, which burns off by the afternoon to expose them to radiant sunlight. Hemmed in by the Pacific, the site enjoys a cool climate that allows for an extended growing season, giving the Chardonnay ample time to negotiate a harmonious balance of ripe fruit flavor and vibrant acidity. 

That pristine fruit goes to consulting oenologist Philip Zorn, who previously worked at Sunny St. Helena—a winery you’d now recognize as Chardonnay standout Merryvale. He aged the wine for three months in French oak and nine more in stainless steel, imbuing it with just a hint of vanilla to go with the stunning fruit purity.  

We discovered the Backstage Chardonnay in Larkspur in Marin County: We were walking around the quaint downtown with some out-of-town friends when we stopped in for a taste. We’d never heard of the winery, and we soon found out why—they never sell their small-lot wines at retail, as most are typically bought up by the local tasting room regulars. 

But after trying their 2019 Slippery Slope Chardonnay, we made it our goal to claim an allocation for Wine Access members. If you’ve been looking for an any-occasion, go-to California Chardonnay, you’ve found it!