Winemaker Notes
#44 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2020
This Chardonnay offers subtle aromas of jasmine flower, citrus oil, green apple and pear. The elegant aromatics are complemented by fresh kiwi, lemon drop and Pippin apple flavors. The fruit-focused mid-palate is followed by subtle mineral notes and a hint of crystallized ginger in the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is an outstanding appellation wine, made in larger quantities at a remarkably fair price. Grapes come from throughout the diverse valley and the wine barrel fermented and given nine months to rest. Full bodied, layered and widely appealing, it shows a density of peach, pear, baking spice and sweet oak, all of the components coming together seamlessly at the end.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the Chardonnays (there are two early release 2018s), the appellation 2018 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is a great introduction into the wines of this estate and has a richer, expansive, medium to full-bodied style offering lots of golden apple, musky pineapple, brioche, and honeysuckle aromas and flavors. It's a textured, beautifully balanced, superb appellation Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 4-5 years.
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Wine Spectator
Luscious, rich and full of creamy white fruit flavors flanked by buttery accents. Spicy plushness lingers into the finish, with some honeyed notes. Drink now through 2024.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Already bottled, the 2018 Chardonnay Russian River Valley sings of fresh Bosc pears, white peaches and pink grapefruit with hints of powdered ginger, shaved almonds and white pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate has great vibrancy and juiciness with effortless fruit expression and lovely savory layers on the finish. I wish all Chardonnays at this price point tasted this good! 17,000 cases were made. Rating: 91+
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay offers generosity and length on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings dried earth and ripe apple aromas and flavors to the fore. Pair it with roast chicken and fresh garden lettuces. (Best Served: 2020-2023)
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.