Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a classic for the house, the one that everyone can drink any day of the week. The fruit is fresh, lively, with aromas of orchard fruit, yellow apple, pear, quince, orange, vanilla bean, dried herbs on the nose; the mouth feels supple, with pronounced acidity, ripe stone fruit, citrus peel, and a dry, round, juicy finish.
Best Buy
California’s most praised white wine, Chardonnay is also the state’s most planted white grape variety. Diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles.
Chardonnay planted in the cooler, coastal zones takes on bright characteristics like lemon zest, key lime, green apple and wet flint. For this style, look to the chilly Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands and Edna Valley.
The inland zones of California’s coast, such as the Russian River, Sonoma, Napa and Livermore Valleys maintain a more Goldilocks-esque climate where both styles go. Early picking retains acidity and creates a leaner style but leaving the grapes to hang creates an approachable Chardonnay, balancing richness and finesse.
Chardonnay also plays a major part in the sparkling wine production of the Anderson Valley and Carneros.