Carpe Diem Chardonnay 2021
Country
United States
Region
California
Grape Varieties
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Sustainability
Biodynamic Viticulture, Organic Viticulture, Organic Certification
Wine Types
Still, White, Red
About Domaine Anderson
Domaine Anderson is an estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California. Part of the Roederer Collection, the domaine is rooted in Jean-Claude Rouzaud’s early vision for cool-climate winegrowing in this remote coastal valley, where fog, hillside vineyards and diverse soils create ideal conditions for Burgundian varieties. Domaine Anderson offers a premium Californian still wine range with certified organic and Biodynamic vineyard sites, site-specific Pinot Noir, textured Chardonnay and a clear Anderson Valley identity.
Domaine Anderson is closely linked to Champagne Louis Roederer’s long-standing interest in Anderson Valley. Jean-Claude Rouzaud was drawn to this remote corner of Mendocino County in the early 1980s while searching for sites capable of producing high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The valley’s cool climate, fog influence, slopes and varied soils offered the conditions he believed were essential for wines of precision and distinction.
Today, Domaine Anderson continues this vision within the Roederer Collection, focusing on still wines rather than sparkling production. The domaine is located near Philo, in one of California’s most distinctive cool-climate wine regions, and is guided by a commitment to estate-grown fruit, careful vineyard stewardship and restrained winemaking.
Heritage
Specialist leadership
Winemaker Darrin Low leads the cellar. He studied Enology and Viticulture at UC Santa Cruz and at the Institut d’Oenologie in Bordeaux, before gaining experience in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and at Californian estates including J Vineyards, Grgich Hills and Flowers. His approach is strongly shaped by organic farming and Biodynamic philosophy. Vineyard operations are led by Bob Gibson, whose Anderson Valley experience and focus on soil health are central to the domaine’s farming culture.
Region and Vineyards
Anderson Valley from Boonville to the Deep End
Domaine Anderson’s vineyards span the Anderson Valley, from the warmer area around Boonville to the cooler sites closer to the Mendocino coast. This range of locations gives the domaine access to different ripening patterns, exposures and soil types, from valley floor parcels and gently sloping knolls to steeper hillside sites.
The soils vary from rocky river gravels to fine clay loams, helping create distinct expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The cooling marine layer and strong diurnal range support slow ripening, preserving acidity while allowing fruit flavour and tannin structure to develop fully.
Certified vineyard sites
Key estate vineyards include Dach, Walraven and Pinoli. Dach surrounds the winery and includes 17.5 planted acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with CCOF Organic certification and Demeter Biodynamic certification. Walraven, in the hills above Boonville, has 14 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and is also certified organic and Biodynamic. Pinoli, one of the domaine’s coolest sites in the Deep End, lies around 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and includes certified organic blocks.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Organic and Biodynamic farming
Domaine Anderson’s vineyard management is based on protecting the Anderson Valley ecosystem. Organic and Biodynamic farming practices are used to support the relationship between soil, plant and animal life. Compost preparations, rotating cover crops and insectary plants help restore soil, support beneficial insects and improve fruit quality. Wildlife corridors provide habitat and safe passage for animals, while Fish Friendly Farming certification reflects the domaine’s wider commitment to land and water stewardship.
Gentle estate winemaking
All wines are produced from 100% estate-grown fruit. Grapes are picked by hand and transported quickly to the winery in small lots, where they are hand-sorted before gentle extraction. Pinot Noir is fermented in wood and stainless steel open-top tanks to achieve controlled extraction of fruit, colour and structure. Slow malolactic fermentation helps define structure and clarify site-specific aromatics.
French oak from Burgundian cooperages is used carefully, with around 25-35% new oak in any given vintage. Pinot Noir is typically aged for 16 months, while Chardonnay is aged for 12 months, allowing the wines to develop aroma, texture and natural complexity without losing freshness.
Style of Wine
Domaine Anderson offers a focused cool-climate California range with strong sustainability credentials. The Pinot Noirs show the cool-climate character of Anderson Valley, combining red and dark fruit, fine tannins, freshness and site detail. Warmer up-valley sites can bring richer fruit and rounder texture, while cooler coastal-influenced vineyards add tension, savoury detail and length.
The Chardonnays are textured yet precise, with orchard fruit, citrus, mineral freshness and balanced oak influence. Across the range, Domaine Anderson focuses on clarity, estate expression and the natural elegance of Anderson Valley.
