Winemaker Notes
The Arsonist Chardonnay has enough depth of flavor to hold up to lobster, pasta with a cream sauce and, for the adventurous, a well-marbled steak.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This indulgent, full-bodied wine goes all out on richness. Aromas of malted milk, vanilla and cream lead to layered hazelnut, crème brûlée and poached pear flavors, while the viscous texture carries through for a lingering finish. Editors’ Choice
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Tasting Panel
Generous nose and golden color; lush and shimmering with creamy texture and rich, toasty favors. Ripe pear rides in on juicy, bright acidity. A really good value.
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.
Mitigated by mild Sacramento River Delta breezes, the Dunnigan Hills appellation is in the northwest portion of Yolo County and has a Mediterranean climate.