Winemaker Notes
Yellow pear, apple, and quince notes combine with aromas of lime and citrus. Wood spices add depth while a hint of tarragon adds lift and intrigue. Sourced from old vines and planted to old Wente Chardonnay, this wine has terrific concentration and depth while maintaining a lively, refreshing palate structure. Round and graceful, the palate is subtly mineral driven with a quinine-like finish.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Lime skin and pear skin. Pear blossom. Honey blossom. Sliced cooked pear and apple. Full-bodied, polished and very fine. You can feel the solids in this. Very cool.
-
Wine Spectator
Shy at first, but opens to aromatic notes of peach blossoms, lemongrass and chamomile, which evolve to fresh, crisp citrus flavors, a touch of ripe, salted melon and a dash of dried apricot. Remains elegant and detailed, with a hint of white tea on the long finish. Drink now. 254 cases made.
-
Wine & Spirits
Fresh mushroom and bright orange citrus contrast lees tones and fruit. Then layers of pineapple and stone fruit come on in an airy finish, even as oak scents carry on the breath. This needs a few years for all those elements to integrate.
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.