Winemaker Notes
Light golden straw in color with bright fruit aromas of pear, melon, and peach. The palate is driven by notes of stone-fruit, banana, vanilla, and a hint of buttered popcorn. Rich and decadent, our Chardonnay can be enjoyed on its own or with a delicious meal.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
River Junction, located west of the city of Modesto and south of Lodi, is one of California’s smallest AVAs. This vineyard sits at the confluence of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus rivers, benefiting from cooler temperatures than the surrounding sites. Lychee and stone fruit, including Anjou pear and ripe summer peach, integrate well with toasty brioche as the buttery mouthfeel expands and paints the palate with caramel-coated pineapple. Aged in French oak for four to six months, the wine overdelivers with grace.
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.