Forge Cellars Chardonnay Caywood Seneca Lake New York 2022

Forge Cellars is made up of friends with a common goal: to grow grapes and handcraft wines of interest and value that perfectly balance minerality, aromatics and fruit to reflect the exceptional terroir of southeast Seneca Lake. Each vintage is viewed as an opportunity to express our region — to reflect its soils, cool climate, and diverse terroir. LOUIS BARRUOL Winemaker, Visionary - Louis comes from a winemaking tradition of 14 generations. His family has been located at their historic property in the village of Gigondas in the Southern Rhone Valley of France since 1570. Louis grew up among the vines and took over the estate from his dad in 1992, proceeding to improve quality and grow a vigneron-negociant arm of the business. Chateau de St. Cosme is now regarded as the benchmark of wine quality in Gigondas.

There is no question that the Caywood Vineyard has a sparkle to it, a standout in their lineup with Grand Cru distinction. With exceptional freshness vis-à-vis herbs such as thyme, basil, wild carrot, this Chardonnay has a skilled ability to translate a sense of depth from mature vines alongside impeccable lift and vibrancy.

A crush of stone and earth on the nose leads to zesty lemon, lime and white grapefruit flavours in this vibrantly honed expression of Caywood Vineyard, a historic Seneca lake site planted in the early 1970s.