Peirson Meyer Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016
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Wilfred
Wong
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The 2016 Russian River Chardonnay presents plenty of fresh fruit up front with white peach and Asian pear notes complimented with notes of wild spring flowers. There are light graham cracker spice and subtle hints of candle wax that make the aromatics of this wine very compelling. The mouthfeel is pure and silky with an elegant entry and finish, but maintains a surprising weight and concentration on the mid-palate.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Did you just want to drink another glass of a wine because it was so good? Usually, when I am in my tasting sets, I just sniff, swirl, taste, and spit. Since this towards the end of my day, I did the aforementioned, then I drank a few ounces. The 2016 Peirson Meyer Russian River Chardonnay is a wine you will want to enjoy fully. TASTING NOTES: This wine is pure and beautiful. Its aromas of ripe apples, creamy toast are fully integrated and persistent. Pair its lusciousness with Dungeness crab accented with minced garlic, thinly-sliced ginger, and slivered scallions. (Tasted: December 3, 2018, San Francisco)
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Under both labels, L’Angevin and Peirson Meyer, they now produce a total of 3,000 cases featuring Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast and Russian River, along with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.
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 standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.