Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine was aged longer than most in oak barrels, and has wonderful subtleties that make it compelling to sip, savor and sip again. It starts with a light-gold color, then offers tangy citrus aromas that are lighter and leaner than the flavors to follow, which bring ripe pear and subtle baking spices. The body is full and the texture feels smooth, but with a good touch of crisp acidity. Edtors' Choice
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Mendocino Chardonnay? Yes, the 2015 Paul Dolan Vineyards—made with C.C.O.F. certified organic grapes—stands as one of the best, not only in this county but in the Golden State. TASTING NOTES: This wine is rewarding from start to finish. Enjoy its oak accented, ripe stone fruits aromas and flavors with roast chicken in a peach chutney sauce. (Tasted: June 26, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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 large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.