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. 

93 points

Excellent, Highly Recommended
Delectable nose of ripe mango, honeycomb, charred, buttered corn on the cob, and golden apple. Nuts and honey on the palate, along with peaches in cream, lemon curd, and apple that coalesce into an opulent, buttery finish.

91 points

Buttery, round, balanced and amazing for the price! This full-bodied, classic Californian Chardonnay features aromas of green apple and butterscotch yet it's not heavy. Jean-Charles Boisset, of the famous French winemaking family (and married to Gina Gallo), now guides operations. Pair with roasted chicken.

DOUBLE GOLD

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. 

SILVER

SILVER

SILVER

The intense vanilla oak-tinged citrus and green apple flavors make this a pleasing effort, gaining spice and nuance on the finish.

Good price for a Chardonnay this dry and acidic, yet rich. The upfront impressions is all about tartness and minerality, yet there are ripe apricot, papaya and lime fruit flavors. Don’t drink it too cold, as it gains traction and interest as it warms in the glass.

The attractive, user-friendly 2011 Chardonnay Carneros offers notes of citrus oil, no evidence of oak, medium body and good fruit purity as well as texture. While not profound, it will provide a good glass of Chardonnay over the next 1-2 years.

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.

Clean and refreshing, with zesty notes of citrus-laced green apple, spice and honeydew melon. Drink now through 2016. 15,000 cases made.