Professional Ratings

• 95 Tasting Panel

  The 2017 vintage is a milestone for Price Family Vineyards, which purchased this prestigious site 20 years prior; the fruit comes from the northernmost, oldest, and coldest section. Aged 15 months in French oak (30% new), the resulting wine has a lush texture, creamy body, and stony center, culminating in a wealth of depth and class. Aromas of lemon verbena and pear tart mesmerize as the palate proffers edgy notes of lemon zest positioned with high acid, which tames the rich texture. It finishes with a mouthful of honeyed apple.

• 94 James Suckling
  Impressive complexity and powerful aromas of ripe pears and peaches here. Lots of spice, grilled almonds and clotted cream, too. The palate has a smooth delivery of supple, creamy pears and peaches, brulee custard and plenty of spiced-orange sponge cake to close. Drink or hold.
• 93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2017 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard, aged 15 months in 30% new French oak, has scents of toast, citrus peel, wet stone and honey-drizzled hazelnuts with a core of white peaches and baked apples plus a lacy veil of sweet spices. In the mouth, it’s medium-bodied and silky, with slowly expanding, honeylaced flavors on the long, juicy finish. Yum!
• 93 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
  COMMENTARY: The 2017 Three Sticks Durrell Vineyard Chardonnay is a standout wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine brings it to the fore. Its outstanding aromas and flavors of ripe apples, peach skin, chalk, and oak paint a complete picture of beautiful wine. Pair it with panko-crusted, pan-fried Petrale and experience a wine and food moment. (Tasted: April 25, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
• 92 Decanter

  Generous yet elegantly packaged, showing buttered toast and poached pear. Lots of sweet spice, and walnut on the finish.

• 92 Jeb Dunnuck

  From a great site in the Sonoma Coast that sits on an old riverbed, the 2017 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard spent 15 months mostly in used barrels (30% new). It has a slightly deep gold hue as well as a richer, fuller, more opulent style as well ample baked apples, brioche, toasted bread, and caramelized notes. This is a rich, powerful Chardonnay that’s not as aromatic as the Alana Vineyard, yet packs more muscle on the palate. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.

• 92 Wine Enthusiast

  From an estate vineyard, this white is juicy and densely layered, with strong flavors of black licorice, wet stone, salt and dried herb. Made in a full-bodied generous style, it has a lush texture and undeniable complexity, the fruit taking on a tropical fruit profile dipped in flinty rock and nutmeg spice

• 92 Wine & Spirits

  Bill Price III purchased the Durell Vineyard in the late 1990s, using it as the foundation for Three Sticks. Bob Cabral makes this wine from its oldest chardonnay blocks, some dating to 1976. The wine ferments and ages in French oak, and it’s the oak that comes first, like the mast of a ship rising up in the distance. Then the body of the wine takes shape, layering fresh pineapple, nectarine and loquat over savory structure, earthy, spicy and tense. This is powerful, with a long life ahead.

• 92 Wine Spectator

  Full-bodied, powerful and rich, with concentrated flavors of baked apple, dried pear and custard, backed by bright acidity. Pastry and buttery notes linger on the creamy finish, with some savory hints. Drink now through 2024.

• 90 Connoisseurs' Guide

  Whether by dint of vintage or design, the 2017 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay is on the slightly sparing side with respect to richness and reach. It is bright, very carefully oaked and shows a slight, somewhat minerally bias, and it counts good energy as a plus, and, if a very good wine, it remains to be seen, that with further time on the cork, it might find the fruity amplitude required to claim full two-star recommendation.