California White Wines

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The 2018 Chardonnay is a gorgeous, luscious Chardonnay loaded with character. Plush fruit and soft contours bring out all of the natural richness of various Wente Clone Chardonnay selections. Almond paste, dried flowers, butter, chamomile, apricot and tropical fruit all build into a striking crescendo of flavors and textures. This is an especially oily, weighty style of Napa Valley Chardonnay. As always, the Napa Valley Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from Hudson and Hyde.Vinous Media | 94 VMA barrel sample, the 2018 Chardonnay bursts from the glass with bold notes of warm peaches, spiced pears and applesauce with hints of candied ginger, honeycomb and lime cordial. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has electric intensity, with a refreshing line of racy acid cutting through the tightly wound stone fruit and spicy layers, finishing long and honey laced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RP

I tasted the 2021 Chardonnay La Carrière as a finished tank sample the day before it was bottled. It comes from vines planted in 1994 on volcanic soils and was matured for 12 months in about 40% new French oak. It opens soft and creamy on the nose, gaining in intensity as it blossoms to scents of matchstick, saline, Meyer lemons and wafts of lemongrass. The medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture and focused acidity to support its expansive, perfumed fruit, and its classy new oak character is already well integrated. I love this juxtaposition of concentrated flavor and shimmery, energetic acidity. 2,128 cases were made. This will be released in February 2023.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95-97 RP