Winemaker Notes
This 2018 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is bursting with aromas of sun-ripened Golden Delicious Apple, poached pear and marzipan. The nose is filled with dried apricot and white peach, knit together by balanced acidity and a long-complex finish. Barrel fermentation and oak aging for 13 months have added hints of toasted almond, and spice cake to a subtle minerality on the fini
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Beautifully layered in tangerine and lemon rind, this wine is sourced from Martaella Estate and Zio Tony Ranch. Light in oak, it lets the fruit speak, offering white peach and apricot tinged in nutmeg.
-
Connoisseurs' Guide
A bit lighter in gait than either of its two mates and a wine that hews more to elegance than to conspicuous ripeness and big fruit, Benovia’s Russian River Valley appellation bottling is a firmly balanced, medium-full-bodied working whose likeable mix of golden apples and peaches is highlighted by wispy notes of sweet blossoms and a faint minerally presence. It is neither bold nor understated and finds a comfortable place mid-way between, and. while it does not demand additional age, it is balanced to reward a few years of keeping.
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.