This is a Grand Cru wine from Mark's own vineyard, named after his daughter, located on a small hill overlooking Forestville on the Sonoma Coast. It has strong citrus flavors and layers of spice, a strong structure, and a seamless finish that seems to go on forever. Lauren is Auber's first own vineyard, and it has been about 20 years since it was first produced. It can be enjoyed now, and its aging has also proven to be sufficient. After barrel fermentation and barrel aging for 10 months (80% new barrels), it is left to settle for 4 months before being blended at bottling.
Vintage Information
In 2022, there was plenty of rain from the latter half of the previous winter, refreshing the roots and soil tired from the dry previous year, and the warm weather continued in the spring, predicting a healthy and balanced crop. The heat in August and early September further concentrated the flavor and acidity, and we were able to harvest rich, ripe grapes with a balanced nutritional state.
The 2022 Chardonnay shines with its sophistication, concentration, youthful green edges, and dazzling pale yellow color. The aroma is full of fresh and gorgeous flowers, honeysuckle, celery, and rose oil, and the juicy, luscious, smooth texture and amazing concentration make this a vintage that highlights Auber's personality.
Technical information
Winemaking: The wine is harvested late at night while it is still cool, and the aim is to have it barreled within 5-6 hours. It is immediately brought to the winery in a refrigerated truck, where it is sorted and pressed, then placed in French barrels (approximately 80% new barrels, 20% one-year-old barrels) for slow, healthy fermentation, and the first and second fermentations (100% natural yeast, 100% MLF) take place over a period of approximately 10 months. After allowing the lees to settle naturally, the wine is barrel-selected and transferred to stainless steel tanks, where it is left to settle for 4-5 months, before being bottled every December without artificial clarification or filtering. Fermentation and aging period: approximately 15 months (barrels and tanks)
Comment from Mark Auber
A powerful and profound wine with a gorgeous aroma, rich flavor and satisfying thickness arranged like a kaleidoscope, changing over time in the glass. The aroma is full of various nuances such as freshly squeezed lime, honeycomb, beeswax, good old fashioned apple pie sorbet, soft almond cookies, green cardamom, mango lassi, etc., and the unique minerality of crushed rock tightens the whole. It has a stimulating acidity and a natural ripeness, and the unique personality of the heritage clone of the old vines in this field is fully displayed, and the powerful energy has the potential for long aging. The slightly hazy appearance is proof that the flavor has not been reduced by the non-filter. It expresses Auber's commitment.
98-100P The Wine Independent by Lisa Perrotti-Brown Sep.2023
The aroma is so intense you'll want to enjoy it all day long, with waves of different nuances. It's overflowing with citrus aromas, excellent acidity, a rich, creamy taste, and a sharp minerality that overlaps in layers.
Field Information
This unique Grand Cru vineyard is located on a small hill overlooking Forestville on the Sonoma Coast. The vineyard's name, Lauren, comes from the name of the family's only daughter. The vineyard is managed sustainably with dense planting of 1,400 vines per acre (0.4ha) on the stony Gold Ridge soil, and the four clones of Old Wente, Mount Eden, Hudson, and Corton Charlemagne produce grapes of exceptional quality. As the vines get older, the strength and concentration of the grapes increase. Planted in 1999, 2.5ha, first vintage in 2003.
Vintage: 2022
Capacity: 750ml
Type: White wine
Taste: Full-bodied
Main variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Sonoma Coast
Vineyard: Lauren Estate Vineyard
Note: 98-100P The Wine Independent by Lisa Perrotti-Brown Sep.2023
Winemaker: Mark Aubert
Brewing: Fermented in French barrels (approximately 80% new barrels), 100% natural yeast, 100% MLF
Aging: Unfiltered and unfined before bottling
Soil: Stony Gold Ridge soil
Sustainable Certification: Sustainable Farming
Rating: 90P or above
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 15%