Russian River Valley Chardonnay Reviews

Smokey, pithy and ripe with notes of grilled pineapple, cinnamon toast and crème brulee. 

Reduced oak settles in the glass to unleash juicy flavors of Gravenstein apple, lemon, grapefruit and white flower. Gravelly texture gives it context and complexity that buoys the full-bodied frame and allows for persistent acidity.

91 points

Excellent, Highly Recommended 
Opens with aromas of lemon curd, green apple, and fresh-churned butter. On the palate, it’s round with fresh acidity. A note of sweet milk and hint of coriander seed comes through on the finish.

92 points

95 Points
Flashy; peachy. We all really loved this wine.

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