Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aged on the lees for eight months in 35% new French oak, the 2017 Chardonnay Mannequin opens with baked peaches, poached pears and brioche notes with hints of lemon curd, butterscotch and toasted almonds. Full-bodied, rich and decadently fruited with a pleasantly oily texture, it has seamless freshness and a very long, toasty finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Orin Swift Cellars Mannequin is a New World Chardonnay from start to finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows up with a power-rush of ripe fruit and sandalwood. Pair it with grilled, bone-in chicken thighs. (Tasted: October 12, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.