Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Freeman Ryo-fu Chardonnay has a light golden color and beautiful clarity. The nose starts out with Bosc pear aromas that evolve with air into the scent of pure Gravenstein apples. There are also touches of lemon zest, baking spices and the slightest bit of toastiness. On the palate, the high acidity is a testament to the cool 2023 growing season. Decant this wonderful Chardonnay to allow the full experience to shine through.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
White peach, pear, honeysuckle and some hazelnut aromas that follow through to a medium-bodied palate with a creamy and minerally texture and a flavorful finish. Polished and poised. Hints of lemons and limes at the end.
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Decanter
The 2023 Ryo-Fu Chardonnay is a 50/50 blend of Heintz Vineyard’s Clone 4 grapes - what the winemaking team calls the secret sauce for its concentration and depth - and Dutton Ranch Vineyard, featuring the Lafort clone, which brings floral aromatics reminiscent of Viognier. Its bright gold colour is the first thing you notice. Focused on freshness, it sees just 6% new oak and no bâtonnage, allowing for a precise, lifted character. Honey blossom, crisp apples, and nectarine notes layer over a generous citrusy brightness. The palate is balanced and textured, with depth and a delicate feel - like lemon tartlets and white tea - leading to a long, mouthwatering finish. Very pretty.
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Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay Ryo-fu is laced with the essence of apricot, chamomile, marzipan, white flowers and lightly honeyed notes. The blend of fruit from Heintz and Dutton works so well, with the former contributing mid-pate oiliness, and the latter lending lifted floral top notes.
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Wine Spectator
Vibrant pineapple, peach and Asian pear flavors are crunchy and juicy up front, with notes of salted caramel, white pepper, green cardamom seed and jasmine on the finish alongside crushed rock minerality.
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.
Situated on the foggier and colder western edge of the Russian River Valley, almost abutting the Sonoma Coast appellation, Green Valley is one of California’s most reputable Chardonnay and Pinot noir producing regions. It is also a wonderful source of sparkling wines made from these varieties.
Goldridge soils abound throughout the Green Valley appellation. This fine, dark, sandy loam and fractured sandstone is derived from the remains of ancient inland seabeds dating back three to five million years. It is valuable for high quality grape growing because of its excellent drainage and low fertility.