2009 Chardonnay, Ritchie Vineyard, Russian River Valley

Publications

Vinous

Author

Stephen Tanzer

Date

July 2017

Award

95

Review

Stunning smoky reduction in a Burgundy way, with the subdued nose showing sexy iodiney minerality as the wine opens in the glass. Intensely flavored, soil-driven wine with a distinctly saline quality to its wonderfully sweet orchard fruit, spice and mineral flavors. Perhaps a bit chunkier than the 2009 Hyde Vineyard bottling but the chewy, salty, rising finish leaves the salivary glands humming. Perfect now after some aeration.

Wine

2009 Chardonnay, Ritchie Vineyard, Russian River Valley