Discover Chardonnay

Kanzler 2018 Walker Station Vineyard Chardonnay

Winemaker Alex Kanzler tastes the 2018 Walker Station Vineyard Chardonnay, May 2020. Walker Station is a tiny hillside vineyard of Montrachet clone Chardonnay that Kanzler farms in the Green Valley neighborhood, 8 miles north of the estate. Scored 92 points with Wine Spectator and was in their Insider Weekly roundup.

2017 Maritana Vineyards - "Dutton Ranch - Shop Block 1967" Russian River Valley Chardonnay

From the only remaining piece of the original plantings of Dutton Ranch in 1967 these 50 year old vines continue to produce truly spectacular Chardonnay. Shop Block is a legendary parcel that seems to get better as these vines age. From winemaker Donald Patz.

La Crema 2017 Kelli Ann Vineyard Chardonnay

One of La Crema’s most treasured estate vineyards, the Kelli Ann Vineyard sits a stone’s throw away from the meandering and picturesque Russian River. First planted to vines in 1989, winemaker Jen Walsh hand-selects blocks from this vineyard to produce a wine that is rich and layered with dimension and concentration.

Bricoleur 2018 Estate Chardonnay

Bricoleur Vineyards currently offers two estate grown Chardonnays from the Russian River Valley. Both wines are highlighted in the winery’s ‘Home Grown’ tasting flight and present a lovely contrast in style. The 2018 Unoaked Chardonnay emphasizes the sustainably grown fruit from the estate. After a cool fermentation, the wine aged sur-lie for six months in stainless steel barrels. The wine has floral notes of pear, green apple, and light spices coupled with a full body.

Rochioli 2018 Estate Chardonnay

This wine is a blend from our top Estate Chardonnay vineyards. The average vine age is twenty-three years old, and the blend consists of fifty-two percent from Mid 40, thirty-six percent from the River Block, and twelve percent Little Hill. It is a fine example of the unique characters from our property and the Russian River Valley. Floral aromas of apple, hazelnut, vanilla and a touch of spice combine with the rich apple flavors and crisp acidity. As most know, those with the patience to cellar this wine will be rewarded.

Paradise Ridge 2016 Chardonnay Nagasawa

The Nagasawa Vineyard was planted in 2003 and is a small block of Chardonnay grown in a combination of alluvial and volcanic well drained soils at 600 feet above sea level. Peter's Vineyard was planted in the mid 1900's and is located on the Western region of the AVA, southwest of Sebastopol. Meticulous cultivation of the Chardonnay vines on our Estate gives us the opportunity to grow the wine in the vineyard. The grapes, hand harvested at optimal ripeness and barrel fermented in French oak puncheons with minimal malolactic influence, delivers a wine with balance and elegance.

Gary Farrell 2017 Russian River Selection Chardonnay

This is a wonderfully tart, textured and mineral-driven white from multiple sites across the appellation. Crisp apple and pear wrap around a core of lemon, nutmeg and lemongrass, finishing on a bite of wet stone. 92+ Points, Editor’s Choice | Wine Enthusiast

Russian River Vineyards 2018 Bacigalupi Chardonnay

Coming from the same cuttings of the Chardonnay vines that won Chateau Montelena the Judgement of Paris in 1976, this is a very rare and special release of Chardonnay! Swirl in your glass and enjoy notes of white peach, honeysuckle, crème brûlée and jasmine on the nose, with plenty of fruit on the palate, balanced by a delightful pop of acidity. One of the few Chardonnays built to age, age this beauty over the next 5-10 years—or even longer.

Davis Bynum 2016 River West, Single Vineyard Chardonnay

Our single vineyard River West Chardonnay gains its structure from its bright citrusy acidity, a defining characteristic that we tempered by fermenting in French and Eastern European oak barrels, malolactic fermentation, and sur-lie aging with monthly bâtonnage. For this vintage, we chose two clones to be the centerpiece. The higher percentages of clone 809 and Spring Mountain will add some tropical and floral notes, with other clones blended in for complexity, bringing classic green apple and pear.

Dutton Estate 2017 Warren’s Collection Chardonnay

The fruit for the 2017 Warren’s Collection is harvested from the Dutton Ranch’s original Chardonnay vineyard. The Shop Block was planted in 1967 and is located on the valley floor of the cool Green Valley region. Perfume of white flowers, fresh lime, firm lemon and crisp pear and ripe Granny Smith apple on top of light oak and vanilla. It is a concentrated, integrated, ‘serious’ nose that follows through on the palate. Complex fruit dance in the mouth with the acidity of the fruit blending with the concentrated texture of old vine fruit.... spiced pear, apple, white fruits and minerality linger on and on in the finish.

Inman Family 2016 Russian River Valley Chardonnay.

Inman Family Wines is best known for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, the varietals grown at the Inman’s Olivet Grange Estate vineyard. In 2008, winemaker Kathleen Inman decided to try her hand at the other classic Burgundian varietal, Chardonnay. The decision came as a result of Kathleen’s preference for the leaner more elegant Chardonnays of Chablis and Meursault, and a personal challenge from her husband to see if she could create a Russian River Valley wine with bright acidity, little or no tropical fruit flavors, and a creamy texture from malolactic fermentation without the cloying butteriness so often found in 100% MLF Chardonnays.

Landmark 2017 Lorenzo Chardonnay

Bright and pale lemon in color with notes of Bartlett pear, lemon zest and apricot on the nose. The complex palate is precise and focused with flavors of sweet lemon and kaffir lime, white peaches and crème brûlée with a hint of salinity. The 2017 Lorenzo Chardonnay has a unique balance of creamy elegance and refreshing texture on the palate that invites you back to the glass for more. Located near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Lorenzo Vineyard is the coldest Chardonnay vineyard within Landmark's portfolio and more often concludes our harvest each year. This cool spot and the age of the vines allow the fruit to fully ripen at a very slow pace retaining its natural acidity and the zippiness and structure for which Lorenzo is known.

Patz & Hall 2017 Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay

The 2017 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay delivers aromas of ginger, guava and Crème brûlée with toasted almond, and toffee-brown sugar. Dense, and full bodied, there’s a pleasingly crisp and mouthwatering green apple note on the palate that melds with dried apricot, tangerine flavors along with a hint of toasted oak. The wine finishes dry with fresh acidity and a touch of lemon zest and candied ginger. Once again, Dutton Ranch has delivered a wonderfully age-worthy wine that captures the charm and complexity of some of Sonoma County’s oldest Chardonnay vines.

Merry Edwards Winery 2017 Olivet Lane Chardonnay

Olivet Lane estate has been a source of luscious Chardonnay for decades. This history makes it a true heritage vineyard in Russian River Valley. This golden, straw-colored wine offers up appealing aromas of crème brûlée, citrus blossom and vanilla bean, as well as pear, pineapple and golden delicious apple. In the mouth, it’s rich with well-integrated oak and perfect underpinnings of acidity. Lemon meringue and floral notes linger through the lengthy finish. 93 Points | Wine Enthusiast

Tongue Dancer 2017 Chardonnay, Bacigalupi Vineyard, Russian River Valley

The aromatics are very intense offering scents of white peach and lychee with supporting notes of apricot stone, honeysuckle, and citrus zest. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of tropical fruit, lemon curd, and candied ginger. The finish is long and lingering with accents of vanilla bean and oak. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with a opulent texture.

"The beauty in this wine comes not only from the vineyard site, clone and soil, but also from the family that farms it. The Bacigalupis have a genuine love of the land, and it shows in every aspect. I was thrilled to not only be able to make wine from this famous vineyard, but also to be asked to do so by Pam herself".

James MacPhail Winemaker

Harvest Moon Dry Sparkling Chardonnay

"Randy's second swing at crafting a Chardonnay-based blanc de blanc using méthode champenoise. This delightful sparkling wine has a floral nose, flavors of green and red apple with fresh pair and apricot dance along the tastebuds. The journey finishes with toasted almond a hint of allspice and toasted almond."

Randy Pitts, Winemaker

Dutton-Goldfield 2017 Walker Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

Our Walker Hill Chardonnay comes from a 40-year old Dutton Ranch vineyard in the heart of Green Valley. Dutton-Goldfield has been producing this wine as a small lot separate bottling since 2011 (with the rest going into our Dutton Ranch Chardonnay blend, along with four other vineyards). With a complex nose of lemon/lime zest, the Walker Hill Chardonnay evolves into apple blossom, and almond croissant echoed seamlessly in the flavors. The mouth is generous and inviting, framed by brilliant acidity and solid structure, further amplifying this already complex wine. The finish is dramatically long, with a kiss of lemon meringue pie decadence to complete this hedonistic sip.