Chardonnay – Minimalist

Country	USA
Region	Long Island
Producer	Paumanok
Size	750mL
Style	White
Practices	Sustainable
Grapes	Chardonnay
Other Features	Vegan, Indigenous yeasts, Screw Cap, Unfined

This wine was produced using minimalist winemaking techniques. The fruit came from Paumanok’s vineyard in Aquebogue, planted in 2014. The sandy soils provide ample drainage, allowing the vines to thrive even with heavy rainfall and moisture. Select clusters of unblemished Chardonnay that had attained total ripeness were carefully hand harvested and whole cluster pressed. The juice was transferred into a French oak puncheon and a steel barrel where alcoholic and malolactic fermentations spontaneously occurred. Nothing other than a judicious amount of sulfites was added. A natural sediment may form in the bottle over time.

“Paumanok’s 2022 Minimalist Chardonnay fermented and matured in a couple of used 500-liter oak puncheons and a couple of stainless steel drums (bottled production amounts to 153 cases). It went through malolactic fermentation, with sulfur added only just before bottling. The result is impressive, featuring subtle toasty-leesy notes alongside pear, citrus and melon scents. The wine is medium-bodied or a bit more, plump, generous and creamy textured on the mid-palate, then long and harmonious on the finish.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 91 points – April 17, 2025

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Paumanok

Founded in 1983 by the Massoud family, Paumanok Vineyards is the 2nd oldest winery on Long Island – and the oldest winery on Long Island still owned and run by its founder’s family. Established by Charles Massoud, a native of Lebanon, and his wife Ursula, a native of the Pfalz, Germany – and member of a winemaking/grape growing family – the estate is now run by their sons. Their eldest son, Kareem, is the winemaker; their son Nabeel is the viticulturalist, and their son Salim runs their administrative functions. The estate takes its name from an Algonquian name for Long Island, which was famously referenced by Walt Whitman in his poem “Starting from Paumanok”, published in Leaves of Grass.

Their 127-acre estate property is planted with 32 ha of Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Pinot Noir, and Melon de Bourgogne – densely plated at 1,100-1,400 vines per acre to produce more concentrated fruit and higher quality wines. Their wines are only made with estate fruit and production is limited to under 12,000 cases.

Their terroir is defined by the North Fork’s maritime climate and sandy, loamy topsoil and gravelly subsoil with excellent drainage, similar to Premiers Cru Bordeaux sites. In winter, Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay, which surround the estate, act as giant heat sinks and insulate the vineyards from extreme low temperatures. In summer, they moderate the heat experienced in the city and inland. At harvest, Paumanok often experiences a long Indian summer due to the maritime climate. Sustainable farming and careful canopy management allow the terroir to express itself in their delicately crafted wines. Kareem’s winemaking approach is meticulous and low-intervention, with minimal use of sulfur dioxide.

Paumanok is certified sustainable by Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW). LISW is the first organization of its kind on the East Coast – modeled after similar organizations on the West Coast, like Oregon LIVE and Lodi Rules. Since 2017, the winery is 100% solar powered by their own solar panels.

See all Paumanok wines Visit Paumanok The Wine Cellar Article Watch Jeff Harding Interview

Their wines are only made with estate fruit and production is limited to under 12,000 cases.