XXX XXX: Weekly Tasting Report

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CHARDONNAY SHINES ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST

Affiliate Editor Ryan Montgomery has been tasting chardonnay produced in Sonoma County and the newly shaped San Luis Obispo Coast AVA, from each the brand new and outdated wave of California winemakers which are pushing the boundaries of high quality whereas discovering the steadiness of freshness, energy and winery expression.

Ryan was on web site for the primary day of harvest at Hanzell, situated within the Moon Mountain District AVA of Sonoma County. This began off with an early morning juice pattern tasting within the laboratory overseen by head winemaker Michael McNeil.

Hanzell is steeped in historical past, holding maybe the oldest chardonnay winery in California, planted in 1953, together with the oldest stainless-steel temperature-controlled tanks on the planet, each of that are nonetheless preserved to at the present time.

This historic 1953 chardonnay planting, often called Ambassadors block, was on full present within the Hanzell Chardonnay Sonoma County Moon Mountain District 2021. It shows an old-vine character and good depth, giving each energy and restraint on the palate with a medium-bodied mouthfeel and beneficiant texture, which is minimize by way of with high-tension acidity.

A style of the 10-year-old model of the identical wine – the 2014 classic – displayed a developed nostril and sophisticated notes of lanolin, lemon rind and crushed rocks that had been altogether contemporary and mineral, with a few years of enjoyment nonetheless forward.

Each wines featured the 1953 planting, together with additions from the property’s 1972 and 1976 heritage plantings. All the vines are organically farmed with no tillage and with assist from grazing sheep to diversify the winery ecosystem.

Following the California shoreline farther south, Scott Hawley of Torrin makes chardonnay with a linear spine, constructing wines which are mineral-driven accompanied by an underlying energy set to unravel in years to come back.

Based mostly in Paso Robles, Hawley is sourcing from the newly shaped San Luis Obispo Coast AVA, which supplies a contemporary, oceanic affect to the wines. This was on full show with the Torrin Chardonnay San Luis Obispo Coast Lagom Spanish Springs 2021, which comes with a tightly sure aroma and generously textured palate that’s contemporary in shiny acidity.

As is commonly the case, Napa Valley crimson wines had been among the many top-rated California bottles that Govt Editor Jim Gordon tasted. Two tied for his highest scores, the primary being veteran winemaker Chris Phelps’ Advert Vivum Yountville Sleeping Woman Winery 2021. It’s full-bodied, broad and deep, and simple to sip now or maintain onto for later.

Equally spectacular was one in every of 4 Bordeaux-variety wines from a producer new to us. The Perus Pink Wine Napa Valley 2019 provides dense black fruits and an enormous construction, notably noteworthy on this usually supple and easy-drinking yr.

Ridge Vineyards additionally stepped into the highlight with an intense 2021 chardonnay from their house base at Monte Bello Winery within the Santa Cruz Mountains in addition to a powerful lineup of reds. The latter included traditional zinfandels and crimson discipline blends created from California heritage varieties grown farther north and bottled by winemaker Shauna Rosenblum – sure, from the household that based Rosenblum Cellars, and remembered for his or her highly effective zins.

The Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs 2022 was the favourite, boasting equal elements wealthy fruits, savory notes and spices. This bottling is thought to age and enhance for many years. Shut in high quality are Ridge’s 2022s from the Pagani Ranch, Evangelho and Botticelli vineyards.

Jim additionally tasted a notable lineup from Brian Talley on the Central Coast. His Talley Chardonnay Arroyo Grande Valley Rosemary’s Winery 2022 and sibling bottling of Talley Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley Rosemary’s Winery 2022 had been particularly clean but contemporary, with beautiful fruit flavors.

However the high rating within the Talley line went to the creamy, viscous and vibrant Chardonnay Central Coast Arroyo Grande Valley Rincon Winery. The Talleys are a long-time farming household who nonetheless develop greens however began planting vines in 1982. All their wines right this moment come from their very own vineyards.

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– Reporting contributed by Stuart Pigott, Ned Goodwin MW and Zekun Shuai

The checklist of wines under is comprised of bottles tasted and rated through the previous week by James Suckling and the opposite tasters at JamesSuckling.com. They embrace many newest releases not but obtainable in the marketplace, however which can be obtainable quickly. Some can be included in upcoming tasting studies.

Be aware: You possibly can kind the wines under by nation, classic, rating and alphabetically by vineyard identify. You may also seek for particular wines within the search bar.