Chatom Vineyards

Murphys, California

The Vineyards are located in the secluded Esmeralda Valley at 1500' elevation in the Sierra Foothills. The winery is located approximately 15 miles away in Murphys. Chatom delivers balanced estate grown reds with nice round fruit. Their holdings cover 65 acres and contain 14 varietals of red and white wines. Soil substrates in the Sierra foothill Esmeralda Valley are derived primarily from two bedrock sources. Metamorphic mica schists weather to produce iron rich clay and limestone units that deliver calcium. The vineyard is located in a small valley and has shallow rocky soils in the west, to deeper and more well developed sandy loam, and clay to the east.

Chatom was started in 1981 and is one of the original estate wineries of the Sierra gold country. Their red varietals include; Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Semillon, and Brunello. Whites consist of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The entertaining She Wines label are a white and red table wines produced to benefit two important women's health issues. Proceeds from the Red are donated to heart disease research and proceeds from the White are donated to breast cancer research. Both are well balanced and a tasty way to contibute to these causes.

Production style at the winery is small batch hands on style. The reds are generally barrel aged for 16 - 18 months in +/- 30% new oak and racked off the lees during secondary fermentation. Winemaker Mark Kunz and assisstant winemaker Jason Lewis strive to produce well balanced & flavorful medium bodied wines that have a smooth profile from start to finish.

Merlot is made entirely from Estate grown fruit. Barrel aged for 18 months in 30% new oak. Production volume is 416 cases for 2004 vintage. A smooth Merlot with a fruity body. Aromas of blueberry and blackberry, caramel, a hint marigold and violet. The mouthfeel delivers blueberry, blackberry, plums and light licorice with subtle spice and oak. The lingering finish suggests ripe fruit and spice with white pepper.

The tasting room is a cheerful place to become aquainted with Chatom's wines! Open everyday 11-4:30.

Chatom Winery has a full-time tasting room, beautiful landscaping a picinic arbor, and many yummy estate grown selections!

Cellar Room at Chatom. Reds are aged in barrel 16 - 18 months with +/- 30% of the French oak barrels being new.

Assisstant winemaker "Bull" racking the 2007 Sangiovese. Reds are racked off their lees several times during secondary fermenation.