Winemaker Notes
Inspired by Dan's palate for Old World white wines, this Chardonnay from Russian River Valley harmonizes five single-vineyard quality sites into a single blend. This dynamic wine opens with aromas of pear, hazelnut, and soft white florals. On the palate, flavors of green apple and custard mingle with notes of brioche, caramel, and honeycomb through an exuberant and prolonged finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A smooth, creamy white that shows all the lushness and ripe fruit character of this appellation in Sonoma County. Aromas of lemon zest, vanilla beans and baked apples lead to juicy pear, almond and lime notes on the palate. Barrel-fermented in one-third new oak barrels.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A bright yellow/straw color, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is ripe with fruity aromas of pineapple, river rock, preserved lemon, baking spice, ripe peach, and poached apples. The palate is supple, with a full-bodied feel and confectionery sweet fruit and vanilla notes on the finish.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and juicy, with vibrant Meyer lemon, pear and peach flavors. Details of lemon blossoms, lemon verbena and marzipan join a hint of salted caramel, while a touch of toasted, buttered brioche lingers on the finish. Drink now. 1,936 cases made.
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.