Winemaker Notes
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Supple, vivid and citrusy with aromas of fresh lemons, blanched almonds and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. It has a positive bitterness on the mid-palate with blanched almond and green apple character. Succulent and refreshing.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
All barrel-fermented and then aged 15 months in a mix of puncheons and barrels, the 2021 Chardonnay Reserve comes entirely from estate vineyards in Carneros. Scents of vanilla, peppery spice, orange and pineapple appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is plump, rounded and easy to enjoy, with an attractive bit of citrus on the finish to keep things lively and clean.
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.