Winemaker Notes
Intense, beautiful nose reminiscent of honeydew melon, with floral aromas of jasmine from the Rued clone. The palate is fresh, mouthfilling and rich, long and perfectly balanced, with notes of lemon cream from the See clone and hints of hazelnut from the elegant oak. Delightful to drink right now but it will last for at least 15 to 20 years. I would recommend serving it at 46°- 48° F.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Vibrant nose of apple and pear with hints of matchstick reduction. Brilliant upfront oak spice, fine vanilla and custard cream. Big and bold palate structure with pleasing length and complexity on the finish. A wonderful wine to have more than one glass of.
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James Suckling
Very pretty pinot with sliced fresh strawberry, raspberry and lemon aromas and flavors. Medium body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Bright and clean. Sustainable.
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Wine Spectator
A rich and buttery style, with plenty of creaminess to the ripe apple and baked pear flavors. Ends with honeyed and toasty hints on the plush and open-textured 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.