WINE ADVOCATE

93 / 100

"The 2016 Chardonnay underwent less malolactic than other vintages to preserve the acidity, around 40%, and the wine matured in 38% new oak for nine to ten months. Yields were very low ... Read More »

WINE ADVOCATE

93 / 100

"The 2016 Chardonnay underwent less malolactic than other vintages to preserve the acidity, around 40%, and the wine matured in 38% new oak for nine to ten months. Yields were very low at around 20 hectoliters per hectare. It is much less rich than the 2015, yet it displays finer delineation and perhaps more mineralite. The palate is very well balanced with superb tension, brimming full of energy and fanning out with nutmeg and smoked walnut notes towards the somewhat feisty finish."

VINOUS MAGAZINE

93 / 100

"Bright, light yellow. Highly perfumed but tight nose hints at citrus peel, nectarine, white flowers and stony minerality. Lemony and tight but deep, with terrific salty mineral energy giving punch to the pear and lime flavors. Distinctly backward, savory Chardonnay with lovely subtle, rising length and grip. This wonderfully elegant, taut, seamless wine needs time to blossom and put on weight. Classically tight and austere for this bottling."

WINE SPECTATOR 

93 / 100

"This has a lush edge, with creamed yellow apple, quince and white peach flavors forming the core while buried quinine and verbena notes add detail and length. Gently toasted, showing a whiff of hazelnut throughout. Beautifully rendered Chardonnay. Drink now through 2022."

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most popular white wine grape grown throughout the world.  The most prized Chardonnay growing regions are Burgundy, Champagne and California.  The Chardonnays of Burgundy tend to produce dry, elegant w ... Read More »

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most popular white wine grape grown throughout the world.  The most prized Chardonnay growing regions are Burgundy, Champagne and California.  The Chardonnays of Burgundy tend to produce dry, elegant wines with vibrant acidty and minerality; little or no oak is imparted into the wine for these "Old World" beauties and allows the essence of the Chardonnay grape to reveal itself.   On the other hand, the New World Chardonnay producers of California (Oregon, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand as well) tend to use new oak.  These wines are often described as being "buttery" given their oak influence.  Some Italian Chardonnays fall somewhere in between Old and New World. They too tend to be quite expressive and retain some of the best qualities of both Old and New World Chardonnays. 

Chardonnay's weight and texture can be very different depending on the terroir and amount of oak used.  Sometimes the oak is new and sometimes, in the case of Burgundy, the oak is used.  If oak casks have been used, they impart less of an influence on the Chardonnay grapes.  These wines tend to have mild oak notes in the wine and can often represent itself as roasted nut flavors.  Yet no matter where Chardonnay is grown, there are some common threads that reveal themselves:  apple, pear, honey, lemon and butterscotch.