The 2019 Wiemer Standing Stone Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay from an historic plot planted in 1974 at Standing Stone Vineyards. It spent 20 months on the lees and was bottled with zero dosage, a decision that allows the purity and riveting intensity of the fruit to shine. As you'd expect, there's a long, crystalline, mineral finish with a zing of ginger and kumquat that has to be as close to the essence of Chardonnay as can be bottled. We can't help but compare this to top Blanc de Blanc Champagnes from the likes of Diebolt-Vallois or Guy Larmandier (those who know us well know that we don't make a habit of comparing American sparkling wines to Champagne!). This was winemaker Fred Merwarth's first bottling of this special cuvée, but what's in the bottle has nothing to do with beginner's luck. Special vineyards give winemakers a shot at making something special, and Fred nailed it. Sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices.