Winemaker Notes
Crafted with precision from six pedigreed sites, Paul Hobbs's newest vintage shines with an opalescent, pale straw hue. Aromas of red apple skin, Asian pear, and Meyer lemon zest entices the nose, followed by delicate notes of gardenia. Lively flavors of apricot and nectarine emerge on the palate, giving way to lemon meringue and baking spice. Bright and energetic with a vibrant acidity, this graceful wine ends with a long, seamless finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This rich and decadent Chard delivers aromas of bright apple, nectarine, vanilla and brioche on the nose. The palate delivers waves of juicy acidity, with flavors of pithy Meyer lemon, fresh pear, lemon blossom and cinnamon. Absolutely lovely now, this will be a showstopper after a few years in the cellar.
Cellar Selection -
James Suckling
So complex, creamy, toasty and layered, with pastry-like richness that’s backed by vivid citrus and green apple acidity for great balance. It's deep, broad, long and enticing, opening with baked apple, toasted oak and fresh bread aromas, then lemon meringue, Bosc pears, lime zest and minerals on the palate. Drink now or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Chardonnay Russian River Valley has bright notes of salted lime, fresh pineapple, flinty wet stones, green apples, and excellent lifted energy right out of the gate. The palate has a pure, ripe core, with a refreshing, cool climate feel, and it’s long and drinkable now or over the coming 8-10 years. I absolutely love this wine for its freshness and snappy feel.
Rating: 93+ -
Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) offers a compelling mix of Russian River exuberance and the energy of this cool, late-ripening year. Hints of apricot, dried flowers, orange, jasmine and light tropical notes fill out the layers effortlessly.
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Wine Spectator
Plush and juicy, with flavors of grilled peach, pineapple and citrus that are ripe and generous, plus a thread of marmalade and orange blossoms for complexity. Finds plenty of harmony on the finish, where notes of cardamom and wild fennel linger.
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.