Winemaker Notes
This smooth and inviting Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a crowd-pleasing showcase of the best of this classic cool-climate region. Showing wonderful length and fullness, rich notes of citrusy orange blossom, spiced pear, toasted vanilla and a subtle touch of sage brown butter at the forefront evolve to bright hints of Meyer lemon, grilled pineapple and ripe yellow apple on the mid-palate. The finish is long, crisp and clean, a perfect choice for enjoying alongside food.
Try this beautifully balanced Chardonnay alongside creamy Dungeness crab tagliatelle, wilted spinach and lemon zest or, for a heartier dish, try seared pork chops with apple cider jus and a Gruyère and mustard potato gratin. For a cheese pairing, try a mild cheddar with fresh apples, pickled mustard seed and honey.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
An especially concentrated and layered white that's rich in poached pears and creme caramel flavors that are nicely balanced by vibrant acidity. Lemon zest, minerals and Bosc pears on a linear, energized structure and full body that carry all the rich flavors through a lingering finish. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
This lively Chardonnay displays balanced aromas of Gala apples, lemon zest and white flowers on the nose, giving way to flavors of pear, grilled pineapple, ginger and sage with well-integrated oak and a long, supple finish with echoes of lemon peel, saline and apple blossom.
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.