Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
I love the subtle and warm, floral nose here, which shows peonies, daffodils, honeysuckle, Williams pears, cloves and white pepper. Dense and layered on the palate, which journeys through fleshy stone fruit to spicier elements, all the while retaining a wonderful sense of freshness, thanks to dialed-in acidity. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.
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Wine Spectator
Aromatic notes of lime blossom and oak spice lace flavors of poached apricot, pastry, pineapple and lemon curd in this vibrant, medium- to full-bodied white. Rich and creamy on the lasting finish. Chardonnay.
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Wine & Spirits
Notes of toasted vanilla and sweet cream reflect the 11 months this chardonnay spent in French oak barrels, yet a mouthwatering acidity lends this wine a tight structure. It will keep the green-apple and lemon-curd flavors lively as the oaky tones integrate over several years.
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.
The source of some of Italy’s best and most distinctive white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is where Italian, Germanic and Slavic cultures converge. The styles of wines produced in this region of Italy's far north-east reflect this merging of cultures. Often shortened to just “Friuli,” the area is divided into many distinct subzones, including Friuli Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano and Carso. The flat valley of Friuli Grave is responsible for a large proportion of the region’s wine production, particularly the approachable Pinot grigio and the popular Prosecco. The best vineyard locations are often on hillsides, as in Colli Orientali del Friuli or Collio. In general, Friuli boasts an ideal climate for viticulture, with warm sunny days and chilly nights, which allow grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
In Colli Orientali, the specialty is crisp, flavorful white wine made from indigenous varieities like Friulano (formerly known as Tocai Friulano), Ribolla gialla and Malvasia Istriana.
Red wines, though far less common here, can be quite good, especially when made from the deeply colored, rustic Refosco variety. In Collio Goriziano, which abutts Slovenia, many of the same varieties are planted. International varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are also common, but they tend to be Loire-like in style with herbaceous character and mellow tannins. Carso’s star grape is the red Teranno, notable for being rich in iron content and historically consumed for health purposes. It has an earthy, meaty profile and is often confused with the distinct variety Refosco.