Winemaker Notes
Floral aromas of pineapple, quince, and honeysuckle; with a touch of nutmeg, fig, and toasted oak. The mouth is clean and bright; filled with flavors of green apple, fresh pear, and Meyer lemon. Firm acidity provides a crisp finish of citrus, mineral, and spice.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lemon balm, orange blossoms and lime curd on the nose. The palate is focused, with a full-bodied mouthfeel and integrated acidity, giving notes of grapefruit sherbet, graham crackers and river stones. Very well balanced and energetic.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Truchard's 2023 Chardonnay is loaded with scents of spicy oak, pear and melon, plus hints of citrus and sweet corn. All barrel fermented in one-third new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, plump, rounded and generous but balanced, silky and flat-out satisfying.
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Wine Spectator
Shows a supple, elegant mix of orange blossom and creamsicle flavors, with notes of mango, tangerine, lemon zest and dried apricot. The intensity of flavor is matched by the rich body and fresh thread of acidity. Drink now. 6,000 cases made.
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.