WINE REVIEW: Auteur Wines New Releases

by Andrew Chalk

Auteur 2023 Chardonnay, Bacigalupi Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Co., CA $65

Auteur 2022 Pinot Noir, Balinard Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Co., CA $85

I just tried a tasting of each of the above wines from Sonoma’s viticultural heaven of Russian River Valley. How impressive they are in a field of many impressive competitors.

BRIEF TASTING NOTE ON THE WINES

The Auteur 2023 Chardonnay, Bacigalupi Vineyard has forward aromas of citrus fruit (lemon and lime) , peaches, and yellow apples. The palate is blessed with a phenolic backbone that breaks the overlay of fruit (per the nose) and tart acid minerality. Very refined, rather than showy.

The Bacigalupi vineyard famously powered the 1973 Chateau Montelena that won the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting that put California wine on the world stage.  

The Auteur 2022 Pinot Noir, Balinard Vineyard is a gloriously herbaceous pinot noir, more typical of cooler central coast environments, but with characteristic Russian River gushing fruit of cherries in the mouthfeel. I loved this wine with a pork chop, mashed squash, and applesauce.

THE WINERY

Auteur is a boutique winery that I expect to hear more of. It was founded and is run by a remarkable married couple, Kenneth and Laura Juhasz. Kenneth is the son of a Hungarian refugee. Laura is a Wisconsin farm girl. Despite their very different backgrounds, they both grew up believing you get out what you put in. Kenneth is winemaker and hit New Zealand, Burgundy, Napa, Sonoma and Oregon’s Willamette Valley before starting Auteur. Laura graduated from UW-Madison before heading to Oregon where she headed a cheesemaking creamery amongst other things. It was there she met Kenneth and today is Chief Operations Officer of Auteur, essentially handling all the rest of the winery’s operations.

Kenneth and Laura share a fun moment. The Estate vineyards from the windows of the new tasting room. Photos: Emma Kruch, Emma K Creative

The winery guest experience includes their just opened new luxury tasting room offering a variety of experiences.Their current releases list shows 12 wines, half chardonnay, half pinot noir. (although the 2022 Balinard Vineyard Pinot Noir is missing, so make that a baker’s dozen). 

Make a reservation if you plan to visit as this small operation is likely to prove popular.

Sample.