2006 Carneros District

This year’s blend comes 37% from the Sangiacomo Tallgrass vineyard; 27% from Sangiacomo Green Acres, a young Wente selection (both in Sonoma); 23% from Larry Hyde’s own Bayview Vineyard (this is his personal vineyard and not the Hyde Vineyard, but also in Napa); and 13% from Wells Wagner’s twenty-five-year-old Wente vineyard in Bennett Valley, north of Carneros. The heavier, clay-based soils of Carneros produce wines with a broad, full mouthfeel.

Highlighted Reviews: 2005 Vintage

91 Robert M. Parker Jr.’s The Wine Advocate, December 2007, Issue 174
The 2005 Chardonnay Los Carneros exhibits scents of lemon and lime oil intermixed with orange blossom, quince, and white currant-like notes. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity providing freshness and vibrancy, it will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 2-3 years.

91 (two puffs) Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine October 2007
Yet another deep and generously filled working with a fine fit of keenly defined fruit and sweet barrel-spice, this layered and well-balanced wine again exhibits plenty of substance without being the least bit beholden to ripeness. Its integral acids lend a note of verve and tension to its rich and long-lasting finish, and, while we would not argue against enjoying a glass or two now with lightly sauced lobster or salmon, it promises to expand and improve over time.

Four Stars Ronn Wiegand’s Restaurant Wine, Issue # 119 & 120
The Carneros is round, full bodied, and medium rich; a Chardonnay with good flavor and depth, and a long finish. It tastes of apple, toast, roasted nut, and lemon peel. [2008-2009]

90 Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar May/June 07
Bright straw. Complex aromas of tangerine, pear, gingerbread and smoked meat display impressive thrust and focus. Fleshy and round, with energetic citrus and citrus zest flavors and a deeper note of poached pear on the finish. Gains more weight with air and takes on an interesting musky quality.

Highlighted Reviews: 2004 Vintage

92 (two puffs) Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, June 2006
Although its generous aromas of toast, lees, sweet butter and very ripe apples convey a real impression of substance and size, this working turns out to be surprisingly light on its feet with a bright, citrusy trim to its very lively, fresh fruit flavors, while oak provides plenty of richness. Much in the manner of its Sonoma Coast counterpart below, it has an eye to both substance and energy, and there is little question that it is on a two-or-three-year track to appreciable growth.

91   Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar May/June 2006
Medium yellow. Lemon, lime, nutmeg and smoke on the nose. Harmonious and sweet in the mouth, with a racy texture and lovely lift and length. This has an exhilarating sugar/acid balance and excellent definition.

Highlighted Reviews: 2003 Vintage

89   Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, May-June 2005
Fuller yellow color, with an unfiltered appearance. Exotic aromas of orchard fruits, clove and flowers. Offers a sweeter impression than the RRV bottling, with a softer texture but very good richness. Strong flavor of peach is framed by sound acidity. Best on the classically dry, mounting finish, which boasts very good length.

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