Winemaker Notes
The 2017 vintage displays classic Hyde Vineyard traits of delicate white flowers, tangerine zest, honey, and cinnamon. Poised and energetic, this wine is citrus-driven with orange blossom, hints of yellow apple and warm pie crust weaving a complex nose. The wine is bright and elegant on the palate; good density and concentration leads to a lingering richness fanning out across the long, acidic finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard, which comes from a great vineyard in Carneros, ratchets up the intensity and richness yet still delivers a beautiful vibrancy and freshness. Lots of caramelized lemon, tart pineapple, toasted brioche, and subtle creamy notes all emerge on the nose, and it’s medium-bodied, with plenty of mid-palate depth, a bright spine of acidity, and a great finish. It’s another beautiful, impeccably made Chardonnay from this estate that readers will love. It should have 4-6 years (if not even longer) of prime drinking.
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Wine Enthusiast
Silky smooth and sculptured in crisp apple, pear and integrated oak, this showcases the famous site in all its complex glory, with accents of baking spice and brine. Medium bodied, it displays richness within a context of balance and grace.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard aged on the lees in 38% new oak with weekly bâtonnage. It opens with toast and touches of smoky reduction over warm white peaches, baked quince, chamomile, hay and crushed almonds with an attractive note of crème caramel. It’s medium-bodied with a silky texture and seamlessly woven acidity, finishing long and bright. Richly flavored but lively and crisp.
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Wine Spectator
Rich, plush and well-spiced, with plenty of nutmeg accents to the apple pastry, dried apricot and pear flavors. The creamy finish is long and luscious, showing buttery details.
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Wine & Spirits
An earthy chardonnay with some buttery tones to its tangy orange and mango flavors, this holds to a savory balance. It’s a full and round 2017 from the blocks Larry Hyde planted for Patz & Hall in 1999, using the Hyde-Wente selection of chardonnay.
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.