Top 100 Wines of the Year, Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
Chardonnay shows you exactly what you put into it – or don’t. When growers like Larry Hyde provide us with grapes they’ve tended for decades, short-cuts are not on the table. We hand-sort twice, whole cluster press for purity over volume, and let native fermentation take its course. After eleven months in French oak, we bottle without filtration. The result is lush Chardonnay that is rich and pleasing, yet pure and light on its feet.
The 2022 offering is a collection of twenty three single-vineyard quality sites that could all be bottled as single source bottlings; six blocks of Dutton Ranch, various blocks of Sanchietti Vineyard, Gap’s Crown Vineyard, Zio Tony Ranch, Parmelee-Hill Vineyard, Alder Springs and Durell Vineyard. Fresh fruit abounds in this bottling, with aromas of granny smith apple, orange spritz and bosque pear caressing the senses. Succulent acidity along with a wet rock minerality bestows elegance on the palate and makes this a wine to refresh the spirit on a warm summer day.
Vintage Notes
The 2022 vintage in Sonoma was remarkable, marked by a series of climatic challenges and triumphs. Below-average rainfall during the winter months was mitigated by the heavy rains in March and April. A sustained heatwave in August accelerated ripeness, leading to a compressed harvest. The 2022 wines are shaping up to be exceptional, with delightful fruit profiles, acid structures, and concentration. It’s a vintage that captures the essence of Sonoma’s terroir, promising wines that are vibrant, complex, and true to their vineyard origins.
About Patz & Hall Winery
In 2024, founding winemaker James Hall repurchased Patz & Hall, returning the winery to independent hands after eight years of corporate ownership. For those who’ve followed our journey since the beginning, it felt like coming home.
With James back at the helm, we’ve refocused on what matters most: strengthening our grower partnerships, stewarding our cellar practices, and crafting wines that reflect both place and time. Today, Patz & Hall remains true to its roots, while opening the door to a future of bold thinking and renewed intention.
