Sonoma has been battling Napa Valley for years for the designation of best wine region in California. That battle has been staged primarily in cabernet sauvignons and chardonnays, although both regions produce other varietals as well.
When it comes to chardonnay, I think I give the edge to Sonoma for value. This offering, from a producer who specializes in pinots and chardonnays, can open the chardonnay hater to the beauty of this grape. Oftentimes, chardonnay, particulary California chardonnay, is over-oaked taking away the nuances of the grape. The sad fact is that many people have confused the chardonnay grape with oak, high alcohol, buttery aromas and a full body. Some people love that profile; others hate it. For the lovers, I recommend you try this wine to see the complexity in other chardonnays. For the haters, try this wine and see that California can make beautiful chardonnays and that you might actually enjoy the grape.
This wine was aged 25% in new French Oak barrels for 11 months. The oak was part of the equation, but not the answer. The full body was also part of the equation, as it usually is unless you are drinking a Chablis. This wine had various tropical fruits on the palate and honey on the nose. With almost every draw, I picked up something different. This is a complex chardonnay.
At a retail of $25, I am going to buy a few more bottles as this chardonnay can last for a few more years. I recommend to the chardonnay lover AND the hater to give this wine a shot!
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