Nid Tissé'Bacigalupi Vineyard' Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2023

Question for Marie-Laure: If you had to describe this Chardonnay in terms a Burgunday region, what would you say it’s most like?
Answer: The 2023 Bacigalupi is more generous and opulent so I would say it’s closer to a Puligny Montrachet wine.

The one Bacigalupi Vineyard-designated Chardonnay that set the benchmark for this Russian River Valley site was originally produced by Rudd Estate, first under the Rudd label and later as Edge Hill. This Chardonnay site holds a special place in California wine history, most famously for supplying Chardonnay grapes used in the 1973 Chateau Montelena that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. The combination of cool coastal influence, heritage vines planted in the 1960s, volcanic and clay loam soils, and meticulous family farming results in wines with richness, texture, and mineral-driven elegance. Marie has captured the full potential of this vineyard in her 2023 bottling. 114 cases were produced.

About Nid Tissé:
Last October, I tasted the new releases from Marie-Laure Ammons’ project, Nid Tissé. The Chardonnays then felt a bit closed, but when we revisited them with her in February, they were stunning- just as I’d hoped, given the incredible pedigree of her vineyard sites and her 18 vintages alongside winemaker consultant Philippe Melka.

Her style is distinctly Burgundy-driven, shaped by her studies and time in Burgundy before moving to California. She crafts her Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with precision, achieving near perfection in the bottle.

I highly recommend trying these wines. As someone who regularly seeks out exceptional Chardonnays from both Burgundy and California for personal consumption, I’ve typically found more White Burgundies align with my palate. But more and more of our winemaker friends are now tapping into the full potential of great California Chardonnay; this is one of those instances. Below are the wines available today.