Black Goose Chardonnay originates from an award-winning vineyard high on Sonoma Mountain.  Planted in 1983 to Chardonnay, the crop was for years sold to the likes of La Crema, Martin Ray and Sebastiani.  In 2002 the Bunkers decided to let the vineyard stand on its own.  In less than 4 years this single vineyard designate has been awarded 24 medals in various competitions.Located above the fog line with views of the distant ocean, this vineyard receives more rich sunlight than does the Santa Rosa plain below. Soils range from black adobe to red volcanics to rock with a pinch of soil.The weather varies from snow in the winter which completely shuts down the vines to wet springs to hot summers with cool evenings.

The vineyard now produces two distinctly styled Chardonnays. One is the Bunker Sonoma Mountain Vineyard Sonoma County Reserve, which has a rich tropical nose accompanied by citrus fruit flavors.  Barrel fermenting for 10 months in oak provides the wine its nutty overtones and soft, buttery finish.The second Chardonnay is the Geraldine J, a high-end, premium, Burgundian-style wine derived from the Spring Mountain clone.  The Geraldine J is aged 14 months in 1 and 2-year old  French oak barrels but doesn’t possess an overwhelming oak quality sometimes found in oak barrel-aged Chardonnays.  After bottling, it is aged another 1-1/2 years before being released to the public and judged in competitions.  If you are looking for a Burgundian-style wine without the Burgundian price, you need to try this wine.  It boasts of a rich, tropical nose with apple and cranberry flavors and oak overtones.  It has a soft mouth feel with smooth aftertaste.   These high acid wines will only improve with age and can be put away in your cellar for at least 10 years.