Winemaker Notes
Focused aromas of mandarin orange blossom and Fuyu persimmon are accentuated by candied ginger and mineral notes. Then the vibrancy of the wines’ aroma is matched by its opulent texture and layered flavors of Fuji Apple, lemon custard with a mineral laden finish. Indigenous yeast fermentation in French oak barrels and extended aging of 16 months on lees has produced a wine with exceptional complexity.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Both concentrated and mouth-coating, this impressive, full-bodied wine fills the nose with toast and vanillin aromas, then floods the palate with poached pears, butterscotch and cream. Luscious for current drinking and has the depth to mature nicely. Best through 2030.
Cellar Selection -
Jeb Dunnuck
Sourced from the Zio Tony Ranch, the 2020 Chardonnay La Pommeraie pours a deeper clear golden hue, with ripe and enveloping aromas of buttered citrus, honeysuckle, and baked pineapple. This full-bodied Chardonnay offers up classic Russian River richness and charm, with poached pear, almond, and lemon pastry. Long on the palate, with a clean finish, this is a well-done wine for this ripe style. Drink 2023-2028.
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Wine Spectator
Bold, with rich lemon curd and limoncello flavors at the core, plus hints of litsea oil, spices, flaky, buttery pastry and salted, toasted almonds. Reveals vibrant minerality that weaves in and out to highlight all the complexity. Drink now through 2030.
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.