Carneros Chardonnay Reviews

With ripe, tropical fruit aromas of kiwi, pear, lemon and wet slate, this is broad and mouthfilling with zippy acidity and a generous dollop of sweet, toasty oak and crushed almonds, finishing long with burnt caramel accents and a vein of minerality. Grapes from Herman, Thornton Ranch and Southern Sonoma were whole-cluster pressed, entirely barrel fermented and then aged in 10% new French oak for 10 months.

Creamy, fresh and buttery with notes of apple tart, grilled peach, banana bread and crème brulee.

Excellent, Highly Recommended

Orchard notes and buttered toast aromas drive the nose of this chardonnay. Full bodied on the palate with baked pear, pineapple upside down cake, baked coconut, and toasty vanilla flavors that are most prominent in the long, satisfying finish.

Big oak and a touch of reduction show through on the nose of this appellation wine, as full-figured flavors of crème brûlée, pineapple and Gravenstein applesauce play along a gravelly texture. Highlights of nutmeg and ginger spice the fruit well. 

An attractive style, reliant on spicy, toasty oak as well as a zesty core of melon, green apple and white peach, maintaining an elegant mouthfeel throughout. 

Decadent swirls of petrol and oak inform the entry of this young wine, golden in color and viscous on the palate. Coconut flakes season a core of ripe pear compote and cinnamon before a streak of sizzling acidity tempers the richness of the wine’s initial impression, ultimately finding freshness on the finish.

 — V.B. 

Very rich and opulent. You can taste how the grapes had a long season to grow enormously ripe, delivering flavors of pineapples, pears and golden mangoes. Yet the cool vintage also preserved vital acidity. A delightful young Chardonnay for drinking now with upscale fare.

CHARDONNAY FINALIST. Great Value. Excellent. Highly recommended.