Winemaker Notes
Aromatically this wine brighter than its sister bottlings, with notes of sea spray and saline, and just a hint of vanilla. On the palate the wine has lemon zest and barely ripened yellow apples, as well as a touch of creme brûlée which gives it a lingering full body mouthfeel.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Super rich without being heavy, this full-flavored, butter- and vanilla-scented wine is creamy and ethereal to sip. Peaches, cream, butterscotch and caramel notes over lemon curd and hazelnut flavors and good underlying acidity.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A combination of Wente and Calera clones, the 2022 Chardonnay Cuvée Susan Hyde Vineyard features scents of crushed stone, struck flint and a hint of pencil shavings, in addition to fruity notes of melon, pear and pineapple. It's medium to full-bodied in the mouth, plump and even a bit custardy-oily, then finishes long and creamy.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard Cuvée Susan is another gorgeous wine from Tor Kenward and Jeff Ames. This is classic Hyde. Creamy, textured contours give the 2022 tons of immediacy. Apricot, butter, baked apple tart and a kiss of French oak amplify the character of Hyde beautifully.
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.