Winemaker Notes
Aromas of white peach, lemon zest, and green pear, are followed by subtle hints of toasted hazelnut and spices. Flavors of apple, lemon curd, and pineapple are throughout the palate, while rich flavors of vanilla custard start to shine through. A vibrant and concentrated balance of acidity drives a lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A bright medium yellow hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is highly expressive and opulent on the nose, with decadent aromas of custard, ripe peach, vanilla, and citrus marmalade. Aged entirely in French oak with about 35% new, the palate is full and supple with a fruity feel, and it has good underlying freshness that keeps things from feeling overly heavy, even in this warm vintage.
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Wine Spectator
Peach cobbler, vanilla cream and mango flavors are generous and complemented by a note of salted butterscotch, with a thread of acidity on a juicy frame, plus lingering details of nutmeg and ginger.
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.