Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
There may be no better bang for your buck in Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Rich, unctuous and velvety, it is expansive and balanced, with lush layers of peach and pear dusted in nutmeg. The oak is well-integrated and contributes cohesive elements of baking spice. Editors’ Choice.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Readers looking for a pure, impeccably made Russian River Chardonnay should check out the 2019 Chardonnay Russian River Valley from Hartford Court. It has classic pineapple and honeyed orchard fruits, a rich, medium-bodied mouthfeel, good acidity, and subtle toasty, nutty background nuances. It's ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Chardonnay Russian River Valley was 100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels, 26% new, and aged for 9.5 months. It slips slowly, cautiously out of the glass with crushed rocks and sea spray scents over a core of green and yellow apples and Bosc pears plus a hint of marzipan. Medium-bodied, the palate bursts with apple and pear flavors with a racy backbone and savory finish.
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Wine Spectator
A spicy richness fills the broad textured apple pastry, dried apricot and ripe pear flavors in this white. Creamy midpalate, with a long and plush tasting finish. Drink now.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Hartford Court® Russian River Valley Chardonnay nicely defines this AVA. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings appealing aromas and flavors of ripe, core fruit, dried earth, and a hint of oak to the fore. Pair it with a savory, oven-baked chicken. (Tasted: April 11, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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.