Ramey 2011 Chardonnay Russian River Earlier this year I reviewed Ramey Wine Cellars 2010 Syrah, see my March 28 Review. Ramey Wine Cellars crafts outstanding quality wines that are both delicate and magnificent and comes from some of the finest Sonoma vineyards. Ramey selects vineyards for their ability to continue producing the highest quality fruit. David and his wife Carla founded Ramey Wine Cellars in 1996 after spending time at Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus and Rudd. Ramey Wine Cellars is located in Healdsburg, in the heart of the California wine country. Ramey’s varietals are basically Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Syrah. Today I will review their Chardonnay, and I know…
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Sonoma-Cutrer 2011 Les Pierres Chardonnay Recently I commented on Sonoma-Cutrer 2012 Russian River Chardonnay (see May 9, 2014 post) and described that I first became acquainted with Sonoma-Cutrer during a Sonoma wine tasting event in the 80’s and met Brice Cutrer Jones. When I tasted his Chardonnay, in a word, outstanding, one of the best I have tasted, but that was a while ago. The Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay was my “go-to” Chardonnay until about the time Brice Cutrer Jones was no longer associated with the winery. In 1999, Brown-Forman, the Kentucky-based drinks giant acquired Sonoma-Cutrer, and 2 years later fired Brice Cutrer Jones. Since Brice’s departure, the Chardonnay…
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Grgich Hills Estate 2010 Napa Chardonnay Miljenko “Mike” Grgich first gained international recognition at the celebrated “Paris Tasting” of 1976. Then, in a now-historic blind tasting, a panel of eminent French judges swirled, sniffed, and sipped an array of the fabled white Burgundies of France and a small sampling of upstart Chardonnays from the Napa Valley. When their scores were tallied, the French judges were shocked: they had chosen the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Mike Grgich, as the finest white wine in the world. Mon Dieu! The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately earned Mike a reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world.…
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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…
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Stags’ Leap Winery 2012 Napa Chardonnay Stags’ Leap Winery, (note the placement of the apostrophe), produces the Chardonnay I will review today. The use of “Stags Leap” may be confusing. Another nearby winery named, “Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars” produces excellent wines as well, also note the placement of that apostrophe. Lastly, there is the Stags Leap District, which is the name of the appellation where the two aforementioned wineries are located. The Stags Leap District (no apostrophe) is renowned for producing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, is located between the Napa River and the Stags Leap Palisades. One of California’s earliest wine estates, a unique terroir and ideal microclimate support…
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Byron 2011 Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley In 1984 Ken Brown founded Byron, with a plan to produce spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. The good news at that time was that Chardonnay produced on Santa Barbara had established a solid reputation for its tropical, buttery offerings. The Santa Maria Bench – Byron’s home – is less than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean allowing for cool ocean air to sweep through. Note: Bench is a geographical term meaning the shoulder of a mountain. It’s that part of the hillside where the steep incline begins its rise, and in Byron’s case, roughly 500 – 800 feet above sea…
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Chateau St. Jean 2011 Chardonnay Robert Young Vineyards Not long ago, I commented on Chateau St. Jean’s 2011 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, today I am going to comment on their single vineyard Chardonnay from the Robert Young Vineyards. The estate of Chateau St. Jean is located at the foot of Sugarloaf Ridge in the Sonoma Valley near Kenwood, California. The estate was founded in 1973 and recognized as a true leader in “Vineyard Designated” wines. The winemaker, Margo Van Staaveren, brings with her 30 years of experience and draws out the best that Chateau St. Jean vineyards has to offer. The Robert Young Vineyard is tucked away in a protected cove…
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Patz & Hall 2011 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Russian River Valley I recently reviewed Patz & Hall 2012 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, see July 11, 2014. I was impressed by this wine I had to try Patz & Hall’s Dutton Ranch Chardonnay and was able to grab a 2011 vintage. Founded by 4 individuals Patz & Hall is one of California’s premier wineries. In 2011 the growing season was extremely cool resulting in a very small crop, with tiny berries in small clusters. Such low yields heighten the wine’s concentration, density and texture. Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley, is one of several single vineyard Chardonnay’s offered by Patz & Hall. Opening a bottle…
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Heitz Cellars 2012 Napa Chardonnay In 1961, Joe and Alice Heitz purchased their first vineyard, 8 acres just south of St. Helena. Working out of their small California winery attached to the land they purchased, they put in round-the-clock sweat equity to build their business. Heitz Wine Cellars rapidly established a reputation as home base for one of the Napa Valley’s most innovative and brilliant winemakers, and the unassuming winery soon became a prestigious destination for wine connoisseurs. In 1964, Heitz acquired 160-acre parcel in Spring Valley and began sharpening his skills on Cabernet Sauvignon, and in 1965, by chance, acquired a small vineyard in Oakville from Tom and Martha…
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Patz & Hall 2012 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Patz & Hall was founded in 1988 by four individuals; Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses and Heather Patz. Together, they have turned Patz & Hall into one of California’s premier wineries, with a renowned portfolio of single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. The seeds for Patz & Hall were planted in the 1980s when assistant winemaker James Hall and national sales manager Donald Patz struck up a close friendship while working together at Flora Springs Winery and Vineyards. The two discovered a mutual enthusiasm for a rich and compelling style of wine made by applying traditional winemaking techniques to fruit from elite,…