Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
From the Green Valley portion of the Russian River Valley, the 2015 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard was barrel fermented and aged in a mix of new and used French oak. Mango, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, and hints of toast all emerge from this seriously rich, concentrated, unctuous effort. A blend of four different clones, it's a full-bodied Chardonnay that has moderate acidity, yet still stays pure, elegant, and clean, with a killer finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a site farmed by the Dutton family, this wine is beautifully aromatic in brioche and honey apple, with light toasted oak playing a supporting part. An underlying richness presents as expansive and fleshy on the robust palate, with high-toned offerings of peach and Gravenstein apple.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Three Jacks Vineyard Chardonnay is sourced from a small vineyard in the Green Valley area of the Russian River Valley AVA. It was planted in 1995 to four clones: Old Wente selection, Rued, Dijon 95 and Clone 15. It receives native yeast fermentation and is barrel fermented in French oak, 27% new, where it ages for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard is bold and expressive, bursting with tropical and nutty notes, with an incredibly spicy perfume over a core of apricot preserves and honeycomb. Its powerful, full-bodied palate is laden with stone fruit and spice flavors wrapped in a satiny texture with plenty of freshness, finishing long with savory nuances coming through
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.