Florèz Wines ‘Pegleg’ Chardonnay 2021

Location: United States, California

Winemaker: James Jelks

Grapes: Chardonnay

Soil: metavolcanic

Winemaking: Half of the fruit was foot tread, and pressed the following day. The other half was direct pressed. Hence the name Pegleg, one foot in one foot out (also David, the grower, is half pirate, James says). Both were barrel fermented in neutral French oak with native yeasts & bacteria. Topped, left undisturbed & sur lie for 10 months before a single racking, then bottled. No additives including no added sulfites.

From the Importer Jenny and Francois: James says that they picked 2021 a bit earlier for this vintage of ‘Pegleg’; the wine is zestier and with lower alcohol than 2020. Aromatics of citrus, stone fruit, and leaven. Dry, yet creamy with a firm acidity. While good now, age will benefit the weight of this wine.

Florèz Wines was started by James Jelks in 2017. James grew up in the Santa Cruz area and was schooled in winemaking at nearby UC Davis. He worked in wineries all over the world for 10 years before returning home to make wine in the Santa Cruz area. He is farming some vineyards himself, always dry-farmed, and is also sourcing some fruit from organic and sustainable vineyards. He always works with native yeasts, does not use additives except for a minimal amount of sulfur at bottling, and does not filter the wines.