Winemaker Notes
Light and crisp on the fore palate with tangy quince, spiced pear, and lemon rounding out the mid-palate. Earthy floral notes of nasturtium and saffron ground the barrel notes of brown sugar and toffee and reveal an appealing complex of starfruit and sweet hay. Classic apple fruit, vanilla, and meringue notes embellish the finish and an elegant vein of acidity maintains freshness, vibrance, and harmony.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is rich, sumptuous, Golden Delicious apple, pineapple, white nectarines, interlaced with baking spices, lemon zest, Key lime cream, white florals, floating into toasted pistachio, brioche and a crisp dry finish. Pair with your favorite ethnic takeout.
Best Buy
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.