Winemaker Notes
Crafted from Raeburn's winemaker's favorite vineyard lots in the Russian River Valley and aged for 11 months in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak barrels; the result is a supremely structured and flavorful wine that offers an elevated expression of Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
Pale to deep gold in color with aromas of lemon, pineapple, nectarine and baked pear. Vibrant and concentrated flavors of honeyed brioche, white peach and honeydew melon with juicy acidity and an opulent finish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
This bright and expressive wine saw extended aging for 11 months in French, American, and Hungarian oak. Tropical fruit aromas lure you into a flavorful array of vanilla pudding, chamomile, and mandarin orange cream with underlying toasty notes marked by a level of acidity that balances them out. A fine sapidity creates a juicy, vibrant finish.
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James Suckling
Notes of sliced pears and candied pineapple with hints of honeysuckle and praline. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy texture and hints of dried fruit and toffee caramel.
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.