2019 Arcudi Chardonnay Russian River Valley

JD94 Tony Arcudi has great pedigree, with a degree from UC Davis, a fellowship in Hermitage France, and a stint as Heidi Barrett’s assistant, he is a knockout at his craft. Tony’s 2019 Russian River Valley finds Jeb Dunnuck boasting, “Rock star notes of crushed citrus, lemon curd, spice, flowers, and a touch of rocky mineral emerge from the 2019 Chardonnay. Medium to full-bodied, it’s rich yet, at the same time, fresh, elegant, and light on its feet. Aged 10 months in 20% new French oak, it’s a beautiful wine as well as a great value from winemaker Tony Arcudi.
Estate Notes: This vintage is 100% Chardonnay from the old vines of the Purrington Vineyard located in the cool Green Valley region of the Russian River in Sonoma.
I’m always amazed by this vineyard. Each vine is over 50 years old, and twisted like a unique sculpture. Dry farmed, they receive only what the winter rains provide, with deep roots penetrating the depths of the “Goldridge” sandy, loam soils.
Aged “Sur Lie” for 10 months in French oak with an occasional stirring to add depth and midpalate to the wine. 8 Barrels produced

Tony Arcudi worked first as a missile navigation engineer aboard Navy submarines and later as a product manager in the tech sector. His transition to winemaker– working with wine greats like Heidi Barrett and famed Maison M Chapoutier– happened later in life. 
It’s a story that is still just beginning, evidenced by 100 point scores for his work at Kapcsandy Family Winery and the launch of his own wine brand.

2019 Vintage
The 2019 vintage was characterized by a long warm summer, without any extreme heat events and a fairly mild fall. This stretched the season out allowing for a very long ripening period. 

Antonio Galloni 
I was especially impressed with Tony Arcudi’s wines this year. Arcudi has the magic touch when it comes to finding that elusive balance at Stagecoach where the tannins are tamed and the wines retain energy. Arcudi’s new Terramagra Cabernet is a great choice for readers on a budget. It is a blend from a number of top sites that can’t be disclosed, but that are about as good as it gets.