Winemaker Notes
This wine is a treat for the senses from the first swirl of the glass. Aromas of spiced pear, golden apple, graham cracker and toasted marshmallow lead to a rich and layered palate. Carmel popcorn, apple crisp, and lemon chiffon flavors are balanced by bright acidity and notes of buttercream on the finish. This wine’s rich fruit component complements mildly-spiced vegetarian dishes and rich, creamy shellfish entrées. It also works well with veal, poultry, pasta and rice.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
With buttered corn, lemon chiffon, and cooling minerality appearing upfront, this limited production white offers up additional notes of parchment and candied pineapple within a spectacular, creamy mouth feel buoyed by fine acidity.
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Wine Enthusiast
Intricate oak spice aromas, a creamy texture and nicely layered fruit, butter and vanilla flavors make this wine a showstopper. Hinting at caramel, honey and macadamia nuts, the wine fills the mouth and lingers on the finish.
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Wine Spectator
This rich version offers peach cobbler, apricot and mango flavors. Shows a fresh note of citrus on a juicy frame, with hints of honeycomb, marmalade and a touch of buttery pastry. Drink now. 4,382 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.