Winemaker Notes
Initially, the 2022 Arista Russian River Valley Chardonnay offers notes of wet stones, caramelized sugar, and candied lemon peel. As the wine opens up, layers of lemon-lime, oyster shell, and white flowers reveal themselves. On the palate, this wine’s silky and voluminous mouthfeel is beautifully balanced by subtle saline minerality that adds complexity to the wine. The finish is crisp and clean, leaving mouth-watering sensation that lingers pleasantly.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A barrel selection of Arista's single-vineyard wines, this is a wonderful representation of the power and length of Russian River chardonnay. On the nose, yellow and green apples with flintiness and vanilla blossom. On the palate, a balance of citrus and stone fruits. Taut structure, full body and incredible length make this wine feel complete.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A brilliant yellow/green hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is bright on the nose, with balanced notes of flinty wet stones, pristine green apples, lime, and a full-bodied yet approachable palate that’s light on its feet, featuring an elegant feel and delicate melon fruit on the finish. Drink over the next 6-8 years. This appellation wine is a blend from mostly declassified barrels from the single vineyard designated sites.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is blended from Arista’s single-vineyard wines and was matured in around 20% new oak. It has alluring scents of quince, green pear, vanilla, panna cotta and floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture and understated, mineral-driven flavors. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity and has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from some time in a decanter.
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Wine Spectator
An elegant version, showing quiet notes of pear, citrus and quince, with details of lemon blossoms, lemon thyme and lemon balm that add aromatic complexity. There's an appealingly firm touch from the toasted almond and spice accents, with plenty of harmony on the finish.
Arista Winery was founded by Al and Janis McWilliams in 2002 with a mission to craft artisanal, site-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. From the beginning, the McWilliams have firmly believed that the finest examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced in small lots. This belief has led to an emphasis on quality over quantity and a determination to discover and develop unique vineyard sites that reflect the distinct characteristics of the Russian River Valley. Arista is committed to sustainable farming practices. They work closely with local growers who share the dedication to sustainability in Arista carries out in their vineyards. Very little is done to manipulate the vineyard sites but instead strive to preserve each vineyard's natural qualities.
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.