2020 Michel-Schlumberger Chardonnay La Brume Dry Creek Valley 750 ml

Dry Creek Valley is one of California’s most storied regions—home to legendary names and a viticultural history that rivals anything in the Golden State.

But despite its gloried history, or perhaps because of it, exceptional wineries like Michel-Schlumberger hide in plain sight: They’re no longer the hip, new, sexy thing that attracts attention, but nevertheless they’re making the best bottles in their history.

And that makes for fantastic wines at stunning pricing.

Jean-Jacques Michel planted his vineyard way back in 1979, in Dry Creek’s Wine Creek Canyon, when California wine was just beginning to re-emerge from a decades-long slumber. It was an amazing time to be getting into California wine—prime sites were available for a pittance—and those vineyards are long paid off today.

He picked an absolutely perfect place to grow rich, full-throttle Chardonnay. Just 17 miles from the Pacific Ocean, in prime Dry Creek benchlands, the vines benefit from a dramatic push-pull between the region’s natural warmth and the cooling fogs and morning mist from the sea. The result allows for long hang-times, with the Chardonnay grapes developing a luscious richness and immense complexity that translates into the cellar.

In 1991, the Schumberger family joined Michel, lending their name—and four centuries of winemaking expertise—to the venture. They’re one of the most important winemaking families in Alsace, and recognized the potential of Michel’s groundwork. They’ve elevated the winery to its current excellence, and have long been a favorite of ours. But unlike many other Sonoma legends, they’ve remained an insider secret—a place that does excellent work without the pricing of newer (more highly leveraged) operations.