Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: When I first learned of the River Junction AVA and how it was just West of the city of Modesto, I asked myself, "How they grow really good Chardonnay there?" Well, since that time nearly two decades ago, I found myself reaching for this wine on more than one occasion. TASTING NOTES. The 2016 McManis Family Vineyards Chardonnay boasts of beautifully ripened core fruit flavors that are accented nicely with judicious use of oak. Pair with pan-fried chicken breast and morels Tasted: February 13, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
There is a lot of fruit in the aroma and flavor of this wine. That, along with a touch of floral influence, make this medium-bodied wine fresh and alluring. Notes like Anjou pear, jasmine, ripe peach and a hint of vanilla swirl softly around the palate.
Best Buy
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.