Winemaker Notes
Creaminess is the all-pervasive character. The complex aromas subtly weave lemon and red apple with banana and key lime pie, underlain with toast and nutmeg. Layers of crème brulee, caramel, and stone fruits chime in on the palate, highlighting textbook Russian River Valley structure. Lively acidity graces the finish, which is full bodied, rich and creamy, and the lingering palate impression lures one into sip after sip. This Chardonnay synthesizes thirty-five years of winemaking in the style of Burgundy's great whites.
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 Sonoma sub-appellation whose boundaries cover the northeastern corner of the Russian River Valley AVA, the Chalk Hill growing area is named after its unique chalky and white, volcanic ash soils. This terrain has proven successful with white varieties, namely Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc.