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2017 Sixto (Charles Smith) Chardonnay Roza Hills
95 JD
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Review
The 2017 Chardonnay Roza Hills comes from more chalk soils and 50-year-old Wente clones and was brought up in a mix of concrete and French oak. This is another rich, powerful effort with bright lemon and citrus fruits, lots of chalky minerality, a layered, medium-bodied texture, and stunning purity and length on the finish. It blossoms with air and is going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for a decade or more. Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD
Critic Reviews
A beautiful, layered white with sliced cooked apples, white-peach pie and some nuts. It’s full-bodied and rich, yet focused and formed. Just a hint of yogurt to make it interesting and serious at the same time. Drink or hold.
James Suckling | 95 JS
The 2017 Chardonnay Roza Hills comes from more chalk soils and 50-year-old Wente clones and was brought up in a mix of concrete and French oak. This is another rich, powerful effort with bright lemon and citrus fruits, lots of chalky minerality, a layered, medium-bodied texture, and stunning purity and length on the finish. It blossoms with air and is going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for a decade or more.
Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD
Beginning with a generous amount of oak on the nose, the 2017 Chardonnay Roza Hills Vineyard offers aromas of roasted pineapple, baked pears, lemon curd and elegant French baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is suddenly spicy across the mid-palate and ends with a lingering finish that accentuates the alcohol.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP
Plump and polished, with floral pear and apricot flavors that build richness and structure toward a spicy finish. Drink now through 2022. 358 cases made.
Wine Spectator | 92 WS
Bright medium yellow. Explosive scents of pineapple and candied apple. The richest of these Chardonnays on the palate, conveying a fatter, riper, higher-pH mouthfeel and an umami texture without coming off as salty. If the Moxee is Côte de Beaune-like, this mouthfilling wine is more Pouilly-Fuissé in texture. In fact, it will probably be prized by fans of California Chardonnay. Finishes broad and long. (from Wente vines on chalky soil planted at 1,300+ feet in 1975).
Vinous Media | 91 VM
James Suckling | 95 JS
The 2017 Chardonnay Roza Hills comes from more chalk soils and 50-year-old Wente clones and was brought up in a mix of concrete and French oak. This is another rich, powerful effort with bright lemon and citrus fruits, lots of chalky minerality, a layered, medium-bodied texture, and stunning purity and length on the finish. It blossoms with air and is going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for a decade or more.
Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD
Beginning with a generous amount of oak on the nose, the 2017 Chardonnay Roza Hills Vineyard offers aromas of roasted pineapple, baked pears, lemon curd and elegant French baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is suddenly spicy across the mid-palate and ends with a lingering finish that accentuates the alcohol.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP
Plump and polished, with floral pear and apricot flavors that build richness and structure toward a spicy finish. Drink now through 2022. 358 cases made.
Wine Spectator | 92 WS
Bright medium yellow. Explosive scents of pineapple and candied apple. The richest of these Chardonnays on the palate, conveying a fatter, riper, higher-pH mouthfeel and an umami texture without coming off as salty. If the Moxee is Côte de Beaune-like, this mouthfilling wine is more Pouilly-Fuissé in texture. In fact, it will probably be prized by fans of California Chardonnay. Finishes broad and long. (from Wente vines on chalky soil planted at 1,300+ feet in 1975).
Vinous Media | 91 VM
Wine Details for 2017 Sixto (Charles Smith) Chardonnay Roza Hills
| Type of Wine | Washington White |
|---|---|
| Varietal |
Chardonnay
: Chardonnay has carved its path towards the title “king of white grapes” in subtle yet striking fashion, playing instrumental roles throughout the course of history. It was the chosen grape variety which celebrated the inception of the very first Champagne house - Ruinart, which insists “Chardonnay is the golden thread that runs through the Ruinart taste. “ “Remember men, it’s not just France we’re fighting for, it’s Champagne,” Winston Churchill. The infamous and celebrated French author, Alexandre Dumas once declared a high quality chardonnay wine from Le Montrachet was one that is only appropriate to sip “on bended knees, with head bowed.” And of course, history was made once again when a bottle of 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was awarded first prize in the famous tasting of the “1976 Judgement of Paris,” changing the world’s view on California Chardonnay, inspiring vintners and altering the landscape of California winemaking forever. The origin of the Chardonnay grape can be traced back to the small village of Macon in the Burgundy appellation of France. The varietal, whose name means “a place of thistles” in Latin, is the offspring of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc. Like most prominent grape varietals, the exact circumstances of its inception are unknown; however, it is interesting to note that Gouais Blanc originated in Germany. It is speculated that the ancient Romans, who successfully subdued the Germanic tribes in 6 AD, planted Gouais Blanc in French soil, unwittingly prompting the crossbreeding of the two varietals. If this is the case, the history of the Chardonnay grape goes back much further. The Noble Chardonnay grape variety is most happy in the winegrowing appellation of Burgundy, its home and birth place. Burgundy’s grand Terroir of marl limestone soils and cool climate allows the Chardonnay grape to express itself to its full zenith. Interestingly, the varietal is extremely flexible and can adapt to a wide diversity of soils, allowing the terroir in which it grows to dictate the qualities of the grape and thus revealing a multitude of personalities. For instance, there are subtle yet distinguishing differences in terroir in the Burgundian villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Chablis, Meursault, Corton Charlemagne, Macon, etc. which are all fashioned in their own unique way. The difference in each Climat or Lieu-dit, such as Le Montrachet (Puligny-Montrachet) and Valmur (Chablis) can take one further down the proverbial “rabbit-hole” and into the wonderful, yet complex world of Burgundy wines. However, Burgundy is but one prime growing location for this tremendously adaptable grape variety. The spread of Chardonnay would eventually take root in Champagne, where it excelled in the region’s cool climate and chalky, sub-soils. For top Champagne producers, it became the main ingredient in their high quality, high profile Blanc de Blancs. It would also begin to be blended with the two other acceptable varietals of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (red skinned grapes). The chardonnay grape is now planted in 10,000 of the 34,000 hectares of Champagne. Chardonnay would find its way to California in the late 1800’s but would remain obscure for more than a century due to ignorance of the varietal and lack of knowledge on how to marry it with appropriate terroir. Things changed in the 1970’s when Chardonnay saw a resurgence world-wide, mostly due to the 1976 Judgement of Paris. The unthinkable happened when a bottle of 1973 Chateau Montelena bested some of Burgundy’s finest chardonnay offerings from Batard-Montrachet and Meursault. This event helped place California on the map, changing the face of California winemaking forever. It rejuvenated the cultivation of the Chardonnay grape variety, which saw an exponential growth world-wide. Much like the climats of Burgundy which have their own unique terroir, Chardonnay’s adaptability has found a home in the diverse appellations, terroirs and climates of California. The cool climate locations produce crisp wines with Burgundian nuances, while warmer climates produce wines with opulent, ripe fruit reminiscent of pineapple, mango and papaya. Terroir also dictates the personality, steel and concrete tanks versus oak, and the list goes. From buttery, oak-infused heady wines to crisp, refreshing cool climate fashioned Chardonnays, the grape variety can be extremely modified. There are not enough letters in Microsoft Word to demonstrate all the different nuances, qualities, differences of terroir, climate and winemaking techniques that would encompass in full, the details of the Chardonnay grape. The well-travelled grape varietal of Chardonnay has become the fascination of consumers around the world, becoming the most written about of all grapes. Today, it is planted in over 40 countries, amassing an impressive 211,000 hectares (500,000 acres) across the globe. From Burgundy to Champagne, Napa to Sonoma, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, Chardonnay graces vineyards around the world, captivating its audience with its multiple personalities. “So powerful is the ‘C-word’ on a wine label,” as the famed Jancis Robinson exclaimed. Since its discovery in Macon, this C-word has become a dominant force in the world of wine, changing history, winemaking and the understanding of winegrowing and its powerful attributes to a single varietal. |
| Country |
US
: As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants. |
| Region |
Washington
: While California definitely owns the spotlight when it comes to excellent American wines, Washington winemakers should certainly not be underestimated. While their traditional focus was set firmly on refreshing, illustrious white wines, they've adopted French red varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, they've been achieving excellence in both categories and can compete with the world's most prestigious viticultural titans. Flavor-wise, you can expect a healthy amount of variety when it comes to Washington's finest wines. From acidic and fruity bottles that can shake you up from even the deepest slumber or sadness to rich and ripe powerhouses that command the respect of everyone in the room after as much as a single whiff. Juicy raspberries that gently tickle your tongue, deep and noble blackberries, intense cherries and earthen oak - these are the flavors that characterize this region, despite the presence of an entire orchestral symphony of other aromatic notes. A sampling of fine wine from Washington is a lot like being seduced, so why not uncork one of these bottles for a potential or existing partner? With a drink of this quality, those romantic sparks will turn into a fireworks display, as your emotions are laid bare and intensified, and you make a connection that can last a lifetime. |
| Subregion | Columbia Valley |
Overview
| Producer | Charles Smith |
|---|