Patz & Hall 2012 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay
I recently reviewed Patz & Hall 2011 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, see July 22, 2014. I thought the wine was impressive, but in 2012 the growing season was longer and cooler allowing the winemaker to pick the fruit at the peak of ripeness. As luck turned out I was eating dinner at Delmar restaurant in Chatham, MA, on Cape Cod, and their wine list had Patz & Hall’s Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, but listed the 2011 vintage. I asked the bartender Tim to root around and see if they might have the 2012 vintage. Eureka, Tim came back with a 2012 Dutton Ranch. Founded by 4 individuals Patz & Hall is one of California’s premier wineries.
As I mentioned above the 2012 growing season was long and cool allowing the grapes to achieve perfect ripeness and picking the fruit at optimal conditions can lead to producing a spectacular wine. In contrast, the 2011 growing season was extremely cool resulting in a very small crop, with tiny berries in small clusters. Dutton Ranch is one of several single vineyard Chardonnay’s offered by Patz & Hall. The 2012 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay was aged in Burgundian oak barrels (40% new). Tim opened the bottle for us and, although the lighting at the bar was low, I noticed a light straw yellow color and light aromas of fresh fruit, mostly apples and pears, slightly citrus and floral notes. On the palate, the flavor was rich and exploded with layered flavors of pear, apple and vanilla bean. The wine had a slight mineral taste with nice oak that caught the back of my palate ending off with a creamy finish. The 2012 was definitely better than the 2011. I rarely say this for Chardonnay, but I believe that the 2012 Dutton Ranch will gain some additional benefit with a little cellaring. I will look for a bottle and report back on this wine in about a year (if I can wait that long). However, pick up a bottle of the 2012 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, it is outstanding, definitely one of my favorites.
Cheers!