Winemaker Notes
Jasmine flowers, melon, and yellow and green fruits abound in this unique Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard offering. Planted as a field blend of many different clones and selections of Chardonnay, the aromas and flavors are kaleidoscopic. A floral lift with melon and yellow fruit flavors dominates the palate while the subtle tannic structure offers terrific cling. Generally lower in acid, the wine is generous without sacrificing freshness.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Perfumed aromas of white peaches, jasmine, honeysuckle and baked pears. Medium-bodied with pleasant, floral character. Orange marmalade, stone fruit and lemon curd on the palate. Refreshing and structured tannins. Lovely, oily texture. Herbaceous finish.
-
Wine Spectator
Shows aromas of egg cream and custard with flavors to match, plus nutmeg accents to the ripe apple and pear flavors. Toasty in the midpalate, with buttery accents on the well-spiced and -oaked finish.
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.