Winemaker Notes
Sunny and mouthwatering, the aromas of Meyer lemon, juicy peach, lemon thyme, jasmine and lime blossom shine. Classic Hanzell Chardonnay, the palate reveals notes of green apple, kumquat, pear, melon, mango, graphite, graham cracker and fresh linen. Both richly textured and lacey at the same time, the finish is long and generous. Enjoy now or cellar to watch this vintage evolve for decades to come.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Chardonnay is glorious. It captures so much of what makes Moon Mountain such a special place. Light on its feet but with plenty of texture, the Chardonnay dazzles in 2021. Lemon confit, marzipan, dried herbs, flowers and chamomile open with a bit of coaxing. I especially admire the wine's dynamic energy. The 2021 spent 18 months in a combination of French oak and stainless steel. This is an impressive showing.
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James Suckling
The nose has a balance of power and restraint, with aromas of preserved lemons, river stones and jasmine. The palate is medium-bodied with a generous texture and high-tension acidity, showing notes of lime curd, orange zest and minerals. Grown in heritage vineyards planted in 1953, 1972 and 1976. Made to age. Drink from 2027.
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of tropical citrus, pineapple and spiced pear mingle on the nose of this Chardonnay. The palate brings flavors of quince, river rocks, cinnamon and fresh lemon peel before the lingering floral finish. This is brilliant wine for roasted halibut.
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Wine Spectator
Impressive for its complexity and detail, with notes of candied ginger, orange blossoms and pear drop. Hints of Fuji apple and crunchy sea salt join lingering details of ginger, lemon curd and lemon verbena on a sleek, juicy frame.
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Decanter
The average age of the vines here is 37 years old. There's 26% new French oak, 74% stainless steel fermentation, and 18 months of ageing in total. Cruciferous veggies and others, like asparagus, announce this wine. It has the roundness and creaminess from the ageing but linearity that’s there because of the stainless steel. Flintiness and a hint of lemon curd and Greek yoghurt give this wine a lovely mouthfeel.
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.
Perhaps the most historically significant appellation in Sonoma County, the Sonoma Valley is home to both Buena Vista winery, California's oldest commercial winery, and Gundlach Bundschu winery, California's oldest family-run winery.
It is also one of the more geologically and climactically diverse districts. The valley includes and overlaps four distinct Sonoma County sub-appellations, including Carneros, Moon Mountain District, Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Valley. With mountains, benchlands, plains, abundant sunshine and the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific, this appellation can successfully produce a wide range of grape varieties. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, and most notably, Zinfandel all thrive here. Ancient Zinfandel vines over 100 years old produce small crops of concentrated, spicy fruit, which in turn make some of the Valley's most unique wines. These can also be made as “field blends” (wines made from a mix of grape varieties grown in the same vineyard) along with Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet.