Sonoma-Cutrer The Cutrer Chardonnay 2021
Sonoma-Cutrer The Cutrer Chardonnay 2021 is a 14.1% ABV, 750mL white wine from the Russian River Valley — the single-estate bottling drawn entirely from the winery's own Cutrer Vineyard, whose soils rest on an ancient seabed in the heart of the valley. Where the Sonoma Coast bottling blends across sites, The Cutrer is one vineyard's many blocks, rootstocks and clones blended together, and it is deliberately the creamier, rounder, more oak-influenced Chardonnay in the range: 100% Chardonnay, 100% barrel-fermented, with full malolactic fermentation and ageing sur lie in French oak. Wine Spectator scored the 2021 at 89 points. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 14.1% (winery 2021 announcement)
- Size: 750mL
- Vintage: 2021
- Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
- Vineyard: Cutrer Vineyard (single estate vineyard), Russian River Valley, California
- Winemaking: Hand-harvested at night, whole-cluster pressed, 100% barrel-fermented, 100% malolactic, aged sur lie in French oak
- Score: 89 points — Wine Spectator (2021)
- Producer: Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, Russian River Valley, CA
One Vineyard, Cutrer's Deepest Blocks
Sonoma-Cutrer built its name on estate Chardonnay, and The Cutrer is the purest expression of its home vineyard — closely spaced vines over ancient-seabed soils, picked at night into shallow bins and cooled before a whole-cluster press. The 2021 was also a milestone in the cellar: Director of Winemaking Cara Morrison and Senior Winemaker Zidanelia Arcidiacono led the vintage, the winery's first all-female winemaking leadership team in its 40-plus-year history. Explore the estate on the Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards vendor page or across the white wine shelf.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Caramelised nuts, light caramel, ripe pear, apple pie, praline and brown sugar (winery 2021 notes). Palate: Baked apple and pear with toasted oak, roasted nuts and sweet baking spice. Finish: Round and lingering.
How to Enjoy
Serve cool, not ice-cold, to let the oak and praline notes show. Built for roast chicken, lobster, creamy pastas and dishes with brown butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is The Cutrer different from the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay? The Cutrer comes from a single estate vineyard in the Russian River Valley and is the creamier, more oak-influenced bottling; the Sonoma Coast wine blends four estate vineyards with grower fruit.
What is the ABV of the 2021? 14.1%, per the winery's announcement of the 2021 vintage.
Did the 2021 receive any scores? Wine Spectator rated the 2021 at 89 points.
Single-vineyard Russian River richness — order The Cutrer 2021 from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.