Far Mountain Myrna Sonoma Valley Chardonnay 2021
Far Mountain Myrna Sonoma Valley Chardonnay
Region: Sonoma Valley, California, USA
Vintage: 2021
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Chardonnay
ABV: 13.5%
The wine has a very distinct green to light yellow colour. Aromas are lifted, with floral top notes of chamomile and verbena, complemented by light fresh mint and citrus over white peach. The palate is transparent and refined, with light viscosity and vibrant acidity. The finish is saline and mineral-driven with a delicate lingering finish.
Planted in 1972, Bald Mountain vineyard is a remarkable site in the Sonoma Valley mountains. A cool bowl at the bottom of the site has proved to be the perfect setting for Chardonnay plantings. The vineyard is planted to heritage California clones, with a large portion of Old Wente, grafted onto St. George rootstocks. The site is dry farmed, allowing the vines to thrive in the poor soils and develop complex flavour profiles. The fractured tectonic rock present in the soils, coupled with the vineyard’s altitude, lend a brightness and minerality to the finished wine.
The grapes were pressed as whole clusters and the resulting juice was settled for 48 hours before barrel transfer. Fermentation with indigenous yeast commenced in barrels, with regular topping up conducted as fermentation activity diminished. Monthly lees stirring was performed throughout the process until malolactic fermentation completion, with light sulfur additions applied to support controlled maturation development. The wine underwent 11 months of barrel ageing in 18% new French oak, with the remainder aged in 3-5 year old barrels, maintaining monthly lees stirring protocols throughout the maturation period.
Far Mountain was founded by Chilean winemaker Rodrigo Soto and his wife, Mai Errazuriz, in 2018. Having spent decades working for leading wineries across the Americas, the couple established this project, believing that the remote pockets of the Sonoma Valley mountains had the potential to make some of California’s most exciting wines. With this philosophy in mind, they sought out exceptional vineyards and launched their first release, the 2019 vintage, to international acclaim. In 2025, Antonio Galloni (Vinous.com) named Far Mountain as his ‘Emerging Producer to Watch’, describing them as “one of the most exciting new projects in California” who “craft gorgeous, old-school wines of place”.