Winemaker Notes
Abundant stone fruit leading with yellow and white peach scented with orange blossom. Base notes of sweet cream butter and cornsilk mingle with nuanced oak that expresses as caramelized sugar and pastry. Delicate entry. Light and floral with peach flavor transitioning to apricot, pineapple and tangy nectarine. The acidity is bright, the structure light to medium weight with fresh mineral acidity and a kiss of peach cobbler crust and flakey vanilla-laced pastry on the finish courtesy of light toast French oak aging.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Strong nutmeg and vanilla aromas lead into ripe pear and peach flavors and more baking spices on the palate. It’s oaky and complex, offering a light grip in the smooth texture.
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.