Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sophisticated yet somewhat closed aromatically is the 2003 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard. This can be a show stopper, so I was surprised that it didn’t jump from the glass. Orange blossom, crushed rock, lemon zest, and tropical fruit all make an appearance in this impeccably well-made, medium to full-bodied wine that is more generous in the mouth than the reticent aromatics suggest.
Range:91-94 -
Wine Spectator
Medium yellow. Smoky, musky nose features complex sulfides, minerals and nuts; funky in a positive way. Fat, dense, round and sweet but with lovely lightness of touch. The apricot and nut oil flavors are broad and rather powerful, yet at the same time almost magically weightless. Finishes with sneaky persistence and lovely grip. Kistler pointed out that the Hyde, Hudson and Durell vineyards are all within a half-mile of one another.
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.