Thomas Fogarty Langley Hill Chardonnay 2013
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Wine &
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Robert
Parker
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Wine & Spirits
Langley Hill is a cool, east-facing chardonnay vineyard planted in 1980, often the last block to ripen on the Fogarty family’s mountaintop estate. In 2013, winemaker Nathan Kandler caught the vineyard’s grapes at what feels like peak precision. There’s a stony clarity to this wine, and a crisp white floral tone that lasts. The bright, sharply etched structure suggests that it’s worth keeping in the cellar for three or four years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Coming from the largest Chardonnay site on the estate (5.5 acres) and a steep, southeast facing slope, the 2013 Chardonnay Langley Hill Vineyard is bright and juicy, with lots of marine characteristics in its seashell, citrus and salty minerality. Medium-bodied, pretty, pure, and layered with the vibrant acidity that's present in all of Fogarty's wines, give it a year and drink bottles through 2023. This was aged 15 months in 100% new French oak, but it doesn't show a trace of it.
Twenty five acres of Burgundian-style varietals are planted on the 325 acre estate, focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and small lots of Merlot and Sangiovese. The winery property, located directly west of Palo Alto and Stanford University, sits on Skyline Blvd. at a 2000 foot elevation. The long, cool growing season and excellent sun exposure provide an ideal climate for these grape varieties. Dr. Fogarty's vision is to produce high quality, character-filled wines which take full advantage of the unique soil and climate of this appellation.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.