“Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery but today is a gift - that’s why it’s called present.” - Kung Fu Panda

Wise words from Master Oogway!

Today is indeed a gift, and if you’re among the savvy Chardonnay hunters, it’s high time to spoil yourself. Over the last couple of years, we have brought you tiny and mighty rare opportunity lots to get in on the ground floor of this hot new project that’s quickly gaining notoriety.

If you had the 2018 vintage of this wine, you know what a treat it is. That one scored a hearty 95 from Wine Advocate, raving that it “captures the incredible push-pull of ripeness and mineral/acid tension that the best Chardonnays in California can produce” and while this one has yet to earn any press, it seems inevitable…

It does, after all, hail from the historic Peter Martin Ray Vineyard, a site that you may have seen on other boutique labels like Ceritas or Arnot-Roberts with an illustrious past that dates back to the 1800s. It sits at 1,800 feet above sea level and was replanted in 1979.

You likely won’t find this at your local Costco or BevMo. Maybe, as Operatives do, you’ll spy a bottle or two in the most discerning boutique wine shops.

And even then - never at a discount.

Read Holland is an exciting young project from a superstar winemaker on the rise, Ashley Holland. She’s quietly been climbing the ranks and entering the fray as an elite winemaker. She cut her teeth under the tutelage of Bob Cabral of Williams Selyem and Three Sticks fame and spent time at Pax which partially explains it. Read Holland is the culmination of her passionate pursuit of mighty fine fruit sources.

Just a few hundred cases are made. And most are sold directly to her mailing list. Getting any is a small miracle in itself. Having it at this price is some divine intervention from Bacchus himself. Or maybe it was our dashing good looks. Or maybe just because Ashley is graceful and generous enough to share these otherwise long sold out to the mailing list gems! We can’t be sure…

Sonoma Magazine highlighted her as one of the Rising Stars on Sonoma’s Wine Scene with her fascinating story: “All it took was a college class called ‘International Beverage Education’ to switch Ashley Holland’s dream of becoming an equine veterinarian to a winemaker. Holland loves horses but was fascinated by the creative essence of wines. After working at wineries across California, Oregon, Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay, she returned to Sonoma to join the Three Sticks Winery team as associate winemaker. In 2016, Holland launched her own brand, crafting Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling, in a boutique production of just 450 cases.”

In the glass, it’s pure liquid gold. Stacked with minerality, crushed seashells, white peaches, lemon, and quince. Almond essence, and a lush yet bright character that show off a true representation of the Santa Cruz terroir that has made other producers like Ridge, Mount Eden, and Rhys famous. A joy to drink now, and sure to age gracefully for many years to come. Just a steal of a buy at our price.

You can hardly find a more “garagiste” type, undiscovered boutique producer than this. You’ll be among the rarified few who own a bottle.

Hurry is all we have left to say. With super limited production, we have very little to go around.