Professional Reviews — To help you zero in on wines that match your tastes, below are professional reviews of our Chardonnay — including “raves” as well as “less enthusiastic” impressions (even if we respectfully disagree). You may sometimes find the descriptions more helpful than the numerical scores. Consumer Reviews — To see what dedicated wine lovers like yourself are saying about our Chardonnay, we offer you a link to CellarTracker! where you can sort and summarize by score, vintage, specific wine or like-minded tasters to find exactly what you're looking for. 2008 Ι 2007 Ι 2006 Ι 2005 – 2008 – 2008 Russian River Valley Chardonnay 93 pts. – Wine Spectator, May 2010
Combines ripe, firm, complex fruit with subtle hints of cedar and spice. Full-bodied, with ripe pear, melon, honeysuckle and mineral notes, ending with a rich, fleshy finish. Drink now through 2014.—J.L. 91 pts. – California Grapevine, June-July 2010
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, assertive, toasty, pear and apple cobbler aroma with hints of citrus and butterscotch; full body; forward, rich, toasty, baked apple flavors with notes of tropical fruit and overtones of sweet oak leaving a creamy mouthfeel; crisp acidity on the finish, lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended. 89 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2010
Light yellow. Lively white peach, orange and nutmeg on the nose, plus a hint of fresh sage. Concentrated, tactile and smoky, with a sappy, stony quality to its pit fruit and citrus pith flavors. Becomes richer with air while retaining its structure. The bright finish shows very good chewy persistence. (JR) 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 88 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2010
Bright yellow-gold. Pungent aromas of peach and pear, with notes of smoky lees, buttered toast and hazelnut. Juicy, plush and aromatic, with open-knit flavors of candied citrus and orchard fruits underscored by smoky minerals. Gains power and tightens up with air, finishing with good grip. (JR) – 2007 – 2007 Russian River Valley Chardonnay 91 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009
Light yellow. Spicy pear, Meyer lemon, iodine and lees on the nose. Deep, sappy orchard fruit flavors are complicated by toasty brown butter and mineral notes, with a late note of anise adding interest. This could pass for a serious, old-school Chassagne. The finish strongly echoes the smoke and mineral qualities and lingers impressively. (JR) 90 pts. – California Grapevine, June-July 2009
Medium-light to medium golden yellow; attractive, forward, toasty, buttery, baked apple aroma with notes of butterscotch and lemon custard; full body; big, rich, buttery, ripe tropical fruit and baked apple flavors with a creamy mouthfeel and a lemony finish; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended. 90 pts. – Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines, November 2009
This wine is quite ripe, and, in some vintages, it would lack the vitality needed to hold its own, but 2007 is not your typical year, and this bright effort combines high ripeness with uplifting notes of pineapples, green apples and quiet oakiness. It has a nice bit of plushness at entry and invites service with richer foods like salmon napped with Sauce Hollandaise. 88 pts. – Wine Spectator, May 2010
Intense and vibrant, full-bodied and complex, with a leesy, earthy edge to the pear, spice and lemon-lime flavors, joining a smoky oak flavor on the finish. Ends with a rustic edge. Drink now through 2013. 220 cases made. –JL
2007 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 92 pts. – Wine Spectator, October 2009
Deliciously complex, full-bodied and elegant, with a mix of lees, floral, citrus, green apple, honeydew melon and subtle vanilla-butterscotch notes that expand, ending with a long, lingering finish enlivened by crisp acidity. Drink now through 2013.—J.L. 91 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009
Light, hazy gold. Pungent aromas of melon, peach skin and floral honey. Chewy pit fruit and honeydew flavors are complemented by a suave floral note and a hint of saffron. The finish is penetrating and long, leaving minerals and a gentle smoky note behind. This is showing less oomph but more precision than the Russian River Valley bottling today. (JR) 91 pts. – California Grapevine, December 2009/January 2010
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, forward, intense, toasty, baked apple aroma with a hind of coconut; full body; forward, rich, buttery, slightly viscous, appley, ripe tropical fruit flavors with oaky overtones and a creamy mouthfeel; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended. 91 pts. - Doug Wilder - The Purely Domestic Wine Blog, September 2009
Aromas: lemon and wet stones with a bit of smoke, waxy vanilla dust and dill. Palate: crisp entry of lemon and lime, rounded by some melon and vanilla hints. The mineral and oak add some subtle notes to an overall pleasant experience. Impression: straight forward and clean, the oak is just about right.
87 pts. – Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines, November 2009
Same price and same appellation-designated level as the wine above but not really in its sibling's exalted league, this bottling is focused on clean but somewhat simple Gala apple aromas with a quick whiff of lemon drop candy. It is full on the palate at entry and parallels its nose in its clean, mid-density fruit. An acidy edge narrows it slightly at the end. back to top
– 2006 – 2006 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
90 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
Light yellow. Dusty lemon, orange and white peach on the nose, with a light floral quality gaining strength with air. Juicy, nicely concentrated orchard fruit and citrus flavors are given depth by a sweet spun-sugar quality. Smoky lees and buttery brioche flavors build on the long, sappy finish. Packs a lot of depth and richness but remains surprisingly light on its feet. (JR) 90 pts. – California Grapevine, June-July 2008
Medium-light to medium golden yellow color; attractive, forward, intense, buttery, ripe tropical fruit aroma with hints of caramel and butterscotch; full body; forward, rich, spicy, ripe tropical fruit flavors with firm acidity and overtones of creamy oak; plush mouthfeel; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Shows a lot of forward, rich fruit with well integrated oak. Very highly recommended. 86 pts. – Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines, October 2008
Mid-volume aromas on the youthfully tight side deliver wisps of creme brulee and green apples, and while the wine is full in body and has a rounded, fleshy beginning, it is more restrained in its flavor development. Its latter palate balance is quite good, and it may well improve with time in the bottle, but for the moment, it's as much promise as delivery.
86 pts. – Wine Spectator, Web Only 2008
Perfumed floral, spice and honeysuckle scents are joined by green fig, giving it a tart, pithy edge on the palate that smoothes out. Drink now through 2011. 165 cases made. –JL 2006 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
90 pts. – California Grapevine, June-July 2008
Medium-light to medium golden yellow; attractive, forward, intense, buttery, appley, lemony varietal aroma with notes of toasted hazelnut and butterscotch; full body; crisp, citrussy, buttery, green apple and ripe tropical fruit flavors with firm acidity; lingering aftertaste. Fruit and oak are harmoniously balanced. Very highly recommended. 89 pts. – Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines, October 2008
Slightly piquant notes of Pippin apples with a hint of a candied edge that fills out the nose and a background of creamy oak all combine to give this wine a youthfully vital and attractive start. It is firm on the palate and comes equipped with a light touch of Chardonnay's oily texture for a bit of roundness. On the wiry side at the back and somewhat chalky at this point, the wine has the depth and the focus to age well.
88 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
Light yellow-gold. Ripe melon and peach aromas are complemented by vanillin oak and baking spices. Deep and fleshy, offering sweet honeydew and candied peach flavors. The oak element returns on the long, plush finish. Those with a higher tolerance for wood than I have will surely go for this. (JR) 83 pts. – Wine Spectator, Web Only 2008
Tangy lemon, green apple and light cedary oak flavors are clean, sleek and refreshing. Drink now. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 154 cases. –JL back to top
– 2005 – 2005 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
92 pts. – Wine Spectator, May 2007
Floral, peach, honeysuckle and melon aromas are distinctive, and the fruit is pure on the palate, with a hint of spice. Ends with an elegant, graceful aftertaste. Drink now through 2010. 225 cases made. —J.L. 90 pts. – Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, October 2007
Decidedly Californian in its mix of ripe grape fruitiness and keen balance, this deep, expansive wine leaves little to the imagination and instead wins us over with precisely focused varietal scents of sweet apples and enriching background notes of creme brulee and hardwoods. More than ample acidity and vitality keep this full-bodied effort in perfect form for uses with rich shellfish and meaty white fish preparations, and while cellaring is not needed, the wine can age a few years. PinotFile, October 2007
This is a terrific Chardonnay with a lovely nose of butter (100% MLF), lemon and roasted nuts. There is plenty of toasty oak, citrus and crème brulee flavors and the finishing acidity is on point. A meal in itself. 88 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
Light gold. Ripe melon, passion fruit and tangerine aromas are complemented by oak spice, anise and woodsmoke. Plump but juicy on the palate, offering honeydew and tropical fruit flavors and a light mineral quality that adds energy. On the big, lush side, and better with rich foods than on its own. (JR) 87 pts. – California Grapevine, June-July 2007
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, citrus and pear aroma with a note of toasted hazelnut; medium-full to full body; fleshy, earthy citrus and mineral flavors tending to be a bit austere on the tight, crisp finish; lingering aftertaste. Shows a lot of forward, rich fruit with well integrated oak. Highly recommended. 2005 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
92 pts. – Wine Spectator, May 2007
Earthy, with ripe pineapple and citrus notes, this is more focused on the palate. Elegant and stylish, ending with a wonderfully delicate note and richer pear and melon fruit. Drink now through 2010. 250 cases made. —J.L. PinotFile, October 2007
The aromatic profile here is more austere with mineral, tropical fruit and citrus notes. The texture is more creamy with less prominent acidity. Crème brulee and oak are present but subtle. This doesn’t have the punch of the Russian River Valley bottling, but will be a better match with food. The alcohol is so well integrated that it adds structure without being intrusive.
89 pts. – Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, October 2007
Even a bit riper than its mate above, this wine will push the envelope of acceptability for some people even though it shares its mate's underlying vitality. That said, it is rich and filled with pear and apple fruit notes backed up by lavishly laid on oakiness. It is fairly full and oily on the palate, shows its heat a bit much to be perfect but is oh-so tasty. 89 pts. – Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
Yellow-gold color. Fresh pear and pineapple aromas are complemented by floral honey and subtle oak spices. The palate presents pear and melon fruit, deepened by vanillin oak and brown spices. Finishes with good breadth and gentle grip, echoing the oak spice character. This is more energetic than the Russian River bottling. (JR) 89 pts. – California Grapevine, June-July 2007
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, forward, tangerine and green apple fruit aroma with touches of butterscotch and toasted hazelnut; medium-full to full body; tight, crisp, nutty green apple flavors; firmly structured; lingering aftertaste. Shows a lot of forward, rich fruit with well integrated oak. Highly recommended. back to top
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