Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Well integrated, lengthy and spiced, this white is high in fresh acidity, with abundant layers of Gravenstein apple, pineapple and stone. As it develops on the palate it builds richness and intensity in the form of crème brûlée and vanilla cookie, finding balance on the lengthy finish.
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Wine & Spirits
Scents of white roses and savory green tea meld into this wine’s lasting white peach flavor. The buzz of acidity snaps it to a clean line, all the components held tight and finely knit. This is a property farmed by the Sangiacomos, in the hills above the southern boundary of Sonoma Valley.
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.