Winemaker Notes
This Chardonnay pairs perfectly with summer salads. Try peaches and toasted almonds with smoked chicken over spinach and a red wine vinaigrette, or shaved parmesan with diced ham and toasted corn over butter lettuce with a squeeze of fresh lemon and olive oil.
Blend: 89% Chardonnay, 11% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Making a Chardonnay that successfully bridges the gap between sometimes wine drinkers and regular imbibers can be a challenge. The 2017 Leese - Fitch has done an excellent job in putting it all together. TASTING NOTES: This wine is nicely textured on the palate and crisp in the finish. Its aromas and flavors of ripe apple and aromatic flowers make it an excellent apéritif wine. (Tasted: October 1, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.