Winemaker Notes
One of our finest incarnations of the Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay to date, this bright, enticing wine benefits from the addition of old-vine Wente selection fruit from the Dutton's Walker Hill block located in the cool climate of the Green Valley. From its wonderfully effusive aromas of stone fruit, green apple and narcissus to its pure fruit flavors of pineapple, peach and spicy pear, this Chardonnay offers an intricate, plush, creamy palate and a long, textured finish that combines finesse with dense, structured acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A lush Chardonnay marked by integrated balance of all parts, resulting in great harmony. It’s very ripe in tropical fruits and quite oaky and leesy, but like the powerful gymnasts in Cirque du Soleil, all the performers work together as a troupe. Drink with rich, fancy fare, like lobster or scallops.
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.