DuMOL Highland Divide Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2017
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
Connoisseurs'
Guide
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The wine shows toast, mineral and slate aromas with notes of apple and pear opening to honeyed citrus, thyme blossom, with fennel and lemongrass freshness. The deeply concentrated palate of orchard fruits and apricot preserve reveals a lovely flinty mid-palate character with spearmint and botanicals. Fine persistent length with lots of nuance and detail. Drink it soon after release or age it for up to five years.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also from the Russian River Valley, the 2017 Chardonnay Highland Divide comes from the cooler Green Valley region and a slightly higher elevation site (it’s still in the fog layer though). Lots of citrus, lemon curd, and orange blossom notes as well as some salty minerality emerge from this rich yet racy white. A great example of the vintage with its sweet fruit and bright acidity, it’s balanced, with terrific purity of fruit and a great finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay Highland Divide was barrel fermented and aged 12 months on the lees in 33% new oak. It's toasty on the nose with loads of spices over a core of ripe peach, apricot and nectarine, honey, crème fraîche, citrus peel and crushed shell. Light to medium-bodied, it offers a good interplay of mineral and savory character with tangy acidity and a very long, focused finish. 950 cases produced.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
A bit fuller in body, a little more upfront with regard to richness and not quite as refined just now than either of its two mates, this substantial, firmly-balanced Chardonnay stiffens up slightly after a teasingly supple entry and is less open in the latter going than at the start. Its early impressions of easy accessibility are contrasted by its tighter, more-structured finish, but its fruity depth and solidity are never in doubt nor are its prospect for better with age. It can certainly be enjoyed now, especially with richer entrees such as salmon in sauce, but we would not be too quick to pull its cork and see increased polish ahead once a few years have lapsed.
Other Vintages
2016-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
Respect for the land
DuMOL is a “vineyard up” winery with a fully integrated approach to winegrowing and winemaking. DuMOL planted its high-density estate vineyards and has farmed many of California’s most renowned vineyards for more than two decades.
Commitment to craft
DuMOL sticks to what works and is focused on the fundamentals, finding inspiration in master, visionary producers around the world as DuMOL continually hones its craft—never imitating, ever refining.
Connected on a personal level
This is a project that comes from who the DuMOL team is and what they love. A deep connection is paramount: to the land, the wines, and the customers.
Heritage and experience
Founded in 1996, DuMOL is a latter-day pioneer in the Russian River Valley. Winemaker, Viticulturist and Partner, Andy Smith, farmed the region for nearly a decade before joining in 1999, and Associate Winemakers Julie Cooper and Jenna Davis, and Cellar Master Jaime Eufracio, have over 40 years combined experience at DuMOL.
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.