Winemaker Notes
Originally planted in 1971, Quail Hill Vineyard has long been celebrated as a gem in the region. This Chardonnay from Lynmar 's home estate blends the old-vine Rued clone with more recent plantings of Old Wente selections, resulting in an elegant wine with captivating, exotic aromatics.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
From an estate site planted in 1971, some of which contains the floral Rued clone, this wine is indeed floral and herbal in complex ways. Rich and rounded flavors of apple and pear are accented by a dazzling hint of white pepper that compels and lingers.
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Wine Spectator
Delivers lemon curd and green apple flavors that are fresh and juicy, with notes of tarragon, green tea and tangerine on a plump frame. The acidity gains momentum on the finish.
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.