Russian River Valley Chardonnay Reviews

Editors’ Choice.

This impressive wine is made in larger quantities than many of the producer’s single-vineyard designates, sourced from throughout the appellation. It shines in spritzy, vibrant acidity that supports a medium-bodied frame of lemon zest, kumquat and plenty of length, dotted in touches of nutmeg. 

There’s a lot to like in this nicely priced white, a blend of several regional vineyards. A taste of hazelnut expands on the palate to meet creamy Tahitian vanilla. Approachably round, this crowd-pleasing wine finishes in measured, integrated oak. Editors’ Choice. —V.B. 

SILVER

Offers light toasty oak details, with fig, melon and citrus notes giving this a raw, pithy edge, imparting traction and depth to the flavors. -JL

Full-bodied, with ripe baked apple, spice and light cedary oak notes. The flavors stay true.

Decant this to allow the initial reduction to blow off. Underneath there's a sappy Russian River chardonnay with exuberant fruit ripeness, the aromas suggesting peach and apricot. It's a sunny white to serve well chilled with grilled chicken.

Editor's Choice. Chard freaks will love this California-style version of this variety. It's wonderfully fruity with ripe pineapple, tangerines and papayas, and a rich sweet taste, like bananas sautéed in butter and drizzled with honey. The acidity is perfect. Great job for the price, and easy to find…

A grapey chardonnay with the coffee-and-cream scents of oak, this is a smooth and simple white for roast veal.

Editor's Choice. Great acidity and minerality in this elegant young wine. Doesn’t show the rich concentration of De Loach’s single-vineyard Chards, but then again, it costs far less. It’s actually a good value for a try, minerally and complex Russian River Chardonnay. Don’t drink it too cold.

DeLoach Vineyards 2009 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($13) Vibrant mouthfeel and a floral undercurrent are preceded by a nose of crushed rose petals and apples. Its Asian-pear notes are not overly acidic, and there's a touch of effervesence throughout before a finish that's elegant and laced with tropical-fruit notes. http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/06/sonoma-chardonnay-wine-of-the-week/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter