Winemaker Notes
The three clones bestow the classic character of this wine: The See contributes apple flavors, the Rued the aromatic, floral nose, and the Spring Mountain adds a spicy note. The mouthfeel is fresh and savory, with good acidity and reminiscent of stone fruit like white peach and orchard fruits. The oak is nicely integrated, adding notes of vanilla and hazelnut.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Handsomely rich, ripe and opulent, with ample poached pear, vanilla bean, butter and toast flavors. It's a particularly ripe vintage of La Masia, full-bodied, with a lush, mouth-clinging texture and a long finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Bright, sunny aromas of citrus and buttery croissant waft from the glass of this vivacious wine. There’s a bit more structure and flavors of roasted pear, vanilla crème brûlée and the warmth of clove and cinnamon across a plush, textured palate that finishes with waves of barrel spice.
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Wine Spectator
A juicy version, showing plenty of energy behind its pear, Meyer lemon and Honeycrisp apple flavors, which are vibrant and aromatic. Touches of lemongrass and lemon balm reverberate on the finish, with a hint of toasted brioche. Drink now. 867 cases made.
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.