Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Whiffs of oak, matchstick, toasted nuts and reduction form the nose of this finely etched and youthfully exuberant wine. The palate is marked by juicy acidity, with flavors of lemon peel, green apple and brioche that lead to a salty sea-spray finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Chardonnay La Pommeraie is slightly muted on the nose, slowly unfurling to reveal yuzu, peach blossoms and mandarin peel scents with hints of croissant and toasted almonds plus a touch of honeysuckle. Medium to full-bodied and bursting with perfumed stone fruit and savory layers, it has a silken texture and citrusy lift on the finish. 314 cases produced.
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Wine Spectator
Offers lots of rich fig, melon, apple and citrus flavors without being weighty. Gains complexity and depth, becoming more charming and elegant. Drink now through 2021. 305 cases made.
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.