2021 Sonoma Bench Chardonnay Russian River Valley 750 ml

If during a wine-fueled word-association party game you said “Russian River Valley,” “Martinelli Estate Vineyards,” and “esteemed winemaker,” your team would probably shout the names of high-priced Chardonnay bottles with dedicated followings—and rightfully so.

After all, Robert Parker called Martinelli “one of the most significant vineyard owners in Sonoma,” while Antonio Galloni of Vinous dubbed them “the most meticulous farmers in the region.” That typically translates into mid-90s scores and $45–$60 prices, reflecting their gold-standard-status for both vineyard site and attention to detail.

The 2021 Sonoma Bench Chardonnay offers first-class terroir, premium grapes, and expert winemaking—minus the hefty price tag. Crafted exclusively from grapes grown on a 135-year-old estate, this wine has a get-up-and-dance expressiveness tempered by mellow restraint and an elegant balance of fruit and oak.

Sonoma Bench winemaker David Sayre has his finger on Sonoma’s pulse like few others, and his bottlings have become Wine Access member-favorites for the stunning quality they pack into bottles at approachable prices—and grapes don’t get finer than the ones the Martinellis grow.

The Martinellis’ sustainably farmed land enjoys the ideal Russian River climate: Mornings with wispy fog give way to sunny afternoons, which then fade into cool, crisp evenings. This gives the grapes ample time to develop their complex flavors and acidity, while diverse microclimates and soil types provide the raw materials for inspired Chardonnays.

For the Sonoma Bench Chardonnay, the grapes are handled with tender care: hand-sorted and gently whole-cluster pressed, yielding high-quality juice with round, delicate flavors. Then, after aging 11 months in 30% new French oak, the wine unfolds from the glass like a grandmaster playing the Ruy Lopez: an intricate yet playful expression of Chardonnay.