Scar of the Sea Chardonnay Bassi 2024

Scar of the Sea Chardonnay Bassi 2024

Scar of the Sea
$46.00

Grape: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2024
Type: White

Grown on the extreme coastal sandstone slopes of the biodynamically farmed Bassi Vineyard, this Chardonnay thrives just twelve blocks away from the Pacific Ocean's crashing waves. The cold 2024 growing season extended hang time, allowing the grapes to develop intense flavor maturity while preserving a remarkably low pH. Winemaker Mikey Giugni gently whole-cluster presses the fruit directly into old neutral French oak barrels, allowing a slow, wild fermentation to take place over several months. Left completely undisturbed on its fine lees without bâtonnage, it represents a pristine, unmanipulated translation of California’s most maritime frontier.

In the glass, it appears pale straw with brilliant greenish reflections. The nose is incredibly precise and energetic, flashing notes of Meyer lemon, green apple skin, white floral blossoms, and an unmistakable whiff of sea spray. The palate is defined by its striking "vertical" architecture, in which a searing line of oceanic acidity slices through the variety's natural oiliness. A subtle, chalky texture hugs the mid-palate, giving the wine exceptional grip without relying on heavy oak weight. The finish is remarkably long, clean, and bracingly dry, leaving a lingering, salty impression of crushed oyster shells.

Scar of the Sea is the coastal California project of Mikey and Gina Giugni, focused on vineyards shaped by ocean influence, old vines and patient farming. Based on the Central Coast, the winery works with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Gamay and cider apples from sites in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and beyond. The name points to the Pacific's constant mark on the landscape: fog, wind, salt and cool light. Fermentations are native, extraction is gentle and the wines favor energy over weight. Scar of the Sea helped define a more transparent, maritime style for modern California wine.