Winemaker Notes
Aromatically the wine is mineral driven with hints of green melon, lemon pith, white flowers, and damp grass. On the palate the wine is equally driven by minerality, with hints of white chalk, as well as acidic lemon zest and warm toasty notes.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
An incredible showcase for the appellation, this combines grapes from the producer’s estate West side Farms with Dutton, Woolsey Road and Rochioli Allen, among others. Together it is broadly floral, earthy and richly integrated, with depth and complexity, the acidity vibrantly fresh.
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Wine & Spirits
David Ramey blends this wine from a selection of five sites planted from 1978 to 2006—the biggest contribution from Westside Farms. He ferments the wine spontaneously in François Frères and Taransaud barrels (15 percent new) and the integration of that oak is impressive, allowing the wine’s coastal freshness to provide the dominant impression. Scents of honeysuckle and ginger brighten the wine, while the leesiness adds complexity, with an iodine note and a lasting, intriguing tension.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Russian River Valley has aromas of citrus peel, quince and almonds with a unique, super-spicy undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate offers intense, ripe fruits in a seamless, silky package, and it finishes long and lush.
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.