Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
As Fetzer celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we pay tribute to this great-value white. Crisp and unoaked, this tropical-tasting Chardonnay employs cool-climate Riesling from Monterey County and aromatic Muscat to keep it fresh and fruity. Baked apple and citrus floral tones are pleasant throughout.
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Wine Spectator
Offers a fruity aroma, with well-defined apple and pear flavors that feature hints of beeswax. Creamy and spicy on the finish. Drink now.
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.