Stephen Redenbaugh

9.4

Rich, round, and weighty. Bright sweet lemon and brioche notes. 12 % ABV with a long grippy finish. Balance is the single best descriptor and pure pleasure the result. Prime example of a California character driven non-jammy Chablis-nuanced Chardonnay. Bravo! — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.3

With some inconsistencies the last year or two with Ultramarine, this was a nice refresher of how enjoyable they can be when showing well. I chose this as one of my 2018 Cali BdB sparklers I opened to see how the sparkling wine scene is evolving (also opened was a 2018 Haliotide BdB, 2018 Ultramarine Michael Mara BdB and 2018 Brick & Mortar Manchester Ridge BdB).

Over the last 7yrs or so of opening Ultramarine, I’ve found the Charles Heintz to show the classical vineyard expression of pure and ripe tropical fruit (guava), a small amount of oxidation of the fruit, and a distinct cream soda note. This 2018 lined up fairly close to those expectations (whereas the Michael Mara has been a bit more austere in the past, yet not as much barrel character as the one today). More “funk” and texture than the classical Haliotide, but not too far (nothing vegetal). The dosage feels on-point here. Follows the grower champagne vibe, but more to the natty side. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. Lean and mean and mineralesque. Light-medium body. Will try to double park a bottle of this and excavate in 7-8 years. Beautiful example of this style. 4.13.23. — 3 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

So, so good — 5 years ago

Scott Petrus

9.3

Wonderful. — 5 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.3

Crisp bright fruit up front with a long smooth mineral earthy finish — 6 years ago

Steve Cunneen

8.9

Really nice with a classic profile.
1st birthday celebrations for E. — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.1

Big, good acid, some oak on nose. Mineral finish. Lemon, orchard fruit. Needs decanting — 7 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Amici Cellars – Charles Heintz Vineyard – Chard – 2021
Sonoma Coast – Sonoma County – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A powerful yet finely balanced single-vineyard Chardonnay from the iconic Charles Heintz Vineyard, one of Sonoma Coast’s most respected sites. This is a serious, expressive wine that showcases richness without excess, built on precision, texture, and depth.

Aromas & Flavors
Highly expressive with layered tropical fruit notes on both nose and palate. Ripe pineapple, mango, and baked pear lead, supported by subtle hints of toasted nuts and gentle spice. The fruit is generous but controlled, never tipping into heaviness.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with a creamy, polished texture driven by 100% barrel fermentation, native yeast, and full malolactic fermentation. The creaminess is well-balanced by structure and weight, delivering a long, smooth, and textured finish.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken, lobster with drawn butter, seared scallops, creamy pasta dishes, or aged alpine-style cheeses.

Verdict
A show-stopping Chardonnay that delivers complexity, power, and finesse in equal measure. Bold yet composed, this is a benchmark example of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from a top-tier vineyard. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Charles Heintz Vineyard is renowned for its cool-climate influence and low-yielding vines, contributing to both concentration and natural acidity in wines sourced from the site.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is Chardonnay with presence. Rich, layered, and impeccably balanced, one of those bottles that reminds you why site and farming truly matter. — 2 years ago

Ted Corvey

9.5

Late release with extra lees aging. What a showing. #summitIV — 4 years ago

with Carson, Tyler and 2 others

Randall Brater

9.0

Classic California chardonnay without the oakiness. There is a good balance here and the wine really bursts with flavor when tasted with food. — 5 years ago

muoi Mulry

9.1

Ummmmm so good. Fresh fruity and easy...delicious! — 6 years ago

Brandon T

9.3

A notch above the Charles Heintz for best Ceritas chard, IMO. Delightful, light and crisp. — 6 years ago

Chris Harvey

9.3

15th anniversary bubbles 🥂 — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2022 vintage. Slightly more oak on this version than other interpretations of the Charles Heintz Vyd than I’ve had previously. Still with the glittering mineral presence expected from the vineyard. Pricey but it didn’t exactly suck. 03.26.25. — a year ago

Carter Snead

9.5

Toasted Charles E. Rice — 3 years ago

with Leigh

Ron R

9.4

Happy Christmas Delectable peeps.
Much love to one and all from NJ.
So glad I’m on the Ultramarine list. This stuff is plush and very inviting. — 5 years ago

with Benny, James and 1 other

Pooneet K

9.2

Very nice overall but if I’m being honest a bit under expectations. Aromatically brilliant, with dark petal flowers and earth and a bit of sweet dark red fruit. Just before the finish the palate falls apart a bit - just missing that extra gear. Still an excellent pairing with the steak in the background (prime dry aged rib eye from Hudson and Charles). Decanted for 2 hours but not sure it made a huge difference, didn’t change much in the glass. — 6 years ago

Matt Bucklin

9.3

👍🍷@Charles (Chad) Bucklin — 6 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.3

Sleeper. Insider wine right here. About to go extinct because ain’t nobody giving this the respect it deserves. Fuck it, I’ll be singing the praises of this wine for the many cases ahead to be drank. — 7 years ago