Winemaker Notes
Aromas of Asian pear, melon and Meyer lemon are lifted by delicate citrus and jasmine flowers. Subtle savory notes of toasted hazelnut, flint and a touch of saline bring balance to the elegant fruit flavors. In the palate, a “nervy” edge to the wine plays beautifully with lemon curd and gentle sensation of creaminess. Concentration of this vintage lends to an extended finish that is focused by the agility of the acidity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very floral and aromatic white with honeysuckle, dried lemons, Meyer lemons and hints of flint. Medium-bodied with an ultra-fine texture that goes on for a long time. Honey, apples and brine at the end. Such finesse, beauty, complexity and elegance. So classy and refined.
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Wine Spectator
An impressive version, with intense flavors, a creamy texture and wonderful harmony. Offers ripe peach, melon and apricot notes, plus salted butterscotch, toasted fennel seed and orange blossom accents. A touch of shortbread and spices echoes on the long, mouthwatering finish, where the acidity reveals vibrant facets. Drink now through 2033.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyards is detailed and mineral driven, with aromas of saline, green pear, yellow apples, crème fraîche, almonds and lemon blossom. The light-bodied palate is precise and shimmery, balancing perfumed flavors with firm acidity, and it has a long, gently creamy finish. Rating: 93+
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.