Chardonnay Wine

Producer Description 

Located in the cool Russian River Valley, the DCV Block 10 vineyard tends to ripen slowly, providing grapes that are deliciously balanced.  This balanced Chardonnay carries aromas of peach, green apple and lime with notes of candied ginger, allspice, cream soda and a touch of minerality.

The palate is full of intense, rich flavors of Asian pear, mango and Meyer lemon, with striking nuances of ruby grapefruit, honeydew melon and vanilla bean. 

Traces of spice from its brief barrel aging contribute to its harmonious and bright mouthfeel. Excellent immediate drinkability, although the wine does have potential to age well for 1–3 years." 

Producer Description 

This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 92 Points | Attractive crunchy character with spiced pears, lemon pith, white tea, lemongrass and orange peel. It is full-bodied with creamy texture, vivid acidity and juicy crunchiness. It is both rich and fresh with a polished, mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. (v.2021).

Wine & Spirits 92 Points | Zesty reduction gives the meatier aspects of this wine a run for their money. This is generous, dynamic and cool, needing some bottle age to shed the reductive scallion notes and reveal more of its underlying complexities.(v.2021).

Producer Description 

A blend of five of our favorite Russian River Valley vineyard sites, this Chardonnay captures the fantastic character of the 2021 vintage. Fusing fresh lemon and white floral aromas with a throughline of minerality, this versatile Chardonnay is simultaneously easygoing and complex.  

Peak Drinking Window: 2023 – 2029. 

98 Points, James Suckling
​94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck 
90 Points, Wine Spectator

Expert Review

James Suckling 98 Points | Extremely focused and energetic nose of sliced limes and Meyer lemons with lemongrass. Some stone and hints of flint. Full-bodied with superb density and structure and phenolics that you can feel. It goes on for minutes. Slightly chewy at the end. From Wente clones planted in 1974. (v.2021). 

Winemaker Description 

Produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes. Hand picked Chardonnay grapes grown in the Galilee exhibit nuances of jasmine and honey. Body is medium to full. The wine has been aged for 8 months in oak barrels which adds complexity and richness.

Tal Pelter, the Winemaker and co-owner of Pelter and Matar Wineries, studied agriculture at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. He got a BA in viticulture studies at Curtin University. Tal worked with winemaker John Griffith at Darlington Estate, a boutique winery located in the Perth hills, producing premium wines, blends, sparkling wines, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.

After completing his studies, Tal worked at Evans & Tate Winery, in Western Australia. In 2001, Tal returned to Israel with a vision of establishing his own winery.

After the passing of his mother Tiva in 2002, Tal founded Pelter Winery in her honor. Tal embarked on a journey to produce premium wines in Israel. Nir Pelter, C.E.O and co-owner of Pelter and Matar Wineries. After military service in 2005, Nir joined the winery, motivated by the spirit of the business, the teamwork, and excitement of a new venture. Tal and Nir decided to establish Matar, a premium brand Kosher winery.

Winemaker Description 

Aged for 10 months in new French oak and neutral barrels, this rich and lush wine displays Notes of lemon custard and honeyed apple blossoms, with a touch of warm vanilla butter cookies. Vibrant and expressive palate, rich, full mouthfeel, with a luxurious finish.

Winemaker Description

This rare release takes Dom Pérignon's superb 2002 vintage to the next level. Filled with a new energy and intensity, the champagne has reached its second plénitude – the point at which it evolves into a different expression.

Many consider 2002 the best year for champagne in the last 30. And, after 15 years on its lees, the P2 boasts an even greater longevity. So, while its exotic aromas and subtle salinity are exquisite today, it is also ideal for the cellar.

2002 was a remarkable moment in Champagne’s history. With near-perfect growing conditions, it became widely regarded as the best year in the last three decades, culminating in an extraordinarily concentrated and creamy vintage from Dom Pérignon. Now, the House invites champagne lovers to share an even more spectacular expression of this vintage. Rare and precious, with even greater potential, it is Dom Pérignon 2002.

Expert Review

99 Points Decanter | Here we have drive, vinosity and incredible length. The sweet and savoury balance indulges with a seductive embrace. Gustav Klimt in a glass maybe. Outstanding.

98 points John Gilman | Somehow, I never managed to cross paths with the initial disgorgement of the 2002 Dom Pérignon, so I was delighted to see the coming P2 version waiting in the wings in our tasting lineup in March at the Abbé d’Hautvillers. It would be fascinating to compare the P2 with the first release of the 2002 Dom Pérignon, in much the same way I tasted the two 1996 versions side by side, as this is a great Champagne vintage that dovetails so beautifully with the house style of this bottling. The 2002 P2 delivers a stunning young nose of pear, apple, stony minerality, iodine, dried flowers a touch of nuttiness, menthol and gentle upper register botanicals so emblematic of this cuvée as it starts to first stretch its wings. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and absolutely rock solid at the core, with lovely mousse, laser-like focus again and stunning backend mineral drive on the very, very long, perfectly balanced finish. The 2002 Dom Pérignon P2 looks to be almost unreachable by the passage of time and could easily last a century.  

98 Points James Suckling | Intense, rich and dense P2 with butterscotch and toffee character, together with apricot compote, mango crumble and pie crust. This is at its height right now. Tremendous pleasure and generosity. 

97 Points Vinous | The 2002 Dom Pérignon P2 is wonderfully open in its aromatics, but a bit less giving on the palate, especially next to the regular release. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and white pepper open up first, followed by hints of apricot, honey, chamomile and light tropical notes. Interestingly, the P2 is quite a bit less tropical than the original release. Chef de Caves Vincent Chaperon told me he thinks the original release shows more of a buttery character because of the combination of the ripeness of the vintage and the natural evolution of the wine post-disgorgement under crown seal, as opposed to the P2 which stayed much longer on its lees. It is hard to know if that is an exact explanation, but the reality is that the two 2002s are quite far apart stylistically. (AG) 97+  Inner quote mark (7/2019)

96 Points Wine Spectator | This graceful, bright Champagne features a chime of Meyer lemon peel and mouthwatering acidity, with finely meshed flavors of baked yellow plum, pastry, pickled ginger and smoke-laced mineral that intensify as they expand on the lightly mouthcoating and creamy mousse. Seamlessly knit, this is hard to stop sipping as it dances across the palate. 

95 Points Wine Advocate | The 2002 Dom Pérignon P2 is showing very well indeed, wafting from the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, dried white flowers, orange oil, smoky peach, peat and praline. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad and textural, with a ripe and muscular core of fruit, ripe acids and fine concentration, concluding with a long and elegantly toasty finish. As I wrote earlier this year, this is a ripe and powerful Dom Pérignon that finds its closest stylistic analogy in the 1990 vintage, and it is considerably less evolved than the more tertiary 2000 P2 today. While the P2 is a bit drier and more precise on the finish than the original release, given the wine's slow evolution, the difference between the two is less pronounced than it has been for any vintage since 1996. (WK)  Inner quote mark (4/2020)

Jancis Robinson 19.5/20 Points | Now this is Dom P at its most classic! Biscuity nose with butter and biscuit dough but with great freshness and delicacy too. Really lovely. Great poise and – still – lots of tension! 

Decanter | From vines grown on the plateau above Les Clos, this is a great introduction to the Raveneau style.

Expert Reviews

Decanter 91 Points | Raveneau’s Petit Chablis comes from relatively recently planted vines (2010) located high on the plateau above the grand cru. So clean, vibrant and precise. Crystal clear in character. This is certainly not a heavyweight but is a memorable example of the appellation. The wine will be bottled in Spring 2023. Aged in oak (400/500l old wood) which adds an extra level of roundness and suppleness to the wine. A very fine Petit Chablis. (2021). 

John Gilman 90 Points  | This has excellent depth for a Petit Chablis, as well as lovely mineral undertow and backend lift and has to be one of the wines to search out for dipping into the vintage in its first blush of youth. The bouquet is really pretty, wafting from the glass in a mix of lemon, apple, a lovely base of chalky soil tones, white flowers and a nice touch of citrus zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and has excellent mineral undertow, with a lovely core of fruit, superb acids and grip and a long, complex and quite lovely finish. This is very fine. (Drink between 2023-2035). (2021). 

Burghound | Note: from a .82 ha holding There is plenty of maritime character to the pretty green fruit and citrus scents. There is impressive density and solid underlying tension to the utterly delicious middleweight flavors that conclude in a crisp, stony and refreshing finale. This should drink well after only 2 to 3 years of keeping. (2021).

Vinous  | The 2021 Petit Chablis has an attractive bouquet that could dupe you into thinking there are light red fruits (white tipped strawberries) here. The palate is well balanced with good weight, just a touch of bitter lemon with a linear finish that is lifted by the acidity. This is a fine Petit Chablis. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

A clean, charming, distinctive wine with expressive minerality. Its structure and intensity in the mouth suggest good ageing potential. Ideal with fish and white meats with creamy sauces.

The winery and vineyards are located in and around the village of Poinchy, which is just outside of Chablis itself. The wines from this area tend to be ever so slightly more generous on the palate in terms of power and amplitude, but with a clear and distinct line of briny minerality and acidity that unmistakably scream 'Chablis'!

AgriBio certified since 2010 and practicing organic farming. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in 50% tank and 50% neutral barrels of varying age. Blended wines are aged on the lees for 18 months in combination of 2/3 tank and 1/3 oak.

Expert Reviews

Neal Martin of Vinous writes | The 2021 Chablis Côte de Léchet 1er Cru comes from 60-year-old vines and spent six months on the fine lees, 10% aged in barrel. It has a punchy nose with very aromatic floral scents, hints of grapefruit and more subtle earthy aromas. The palate is well-balanced, with a slightly honeyed opening and acidity neatly offsetting tropical notes of mango and pineapple. Quite concentrated on the finish, this should drink well for a few years. Oddly, more like a 2022 in style!  Drinking 2024 to 2032.

Jancis Robinson writes 16.5+/20 Points | Cask sample. More discreet nose than the regular Chablis and much more obvious acidity. Should mature into a very attractive drink. Some lime notes and medium palate weight.  Drinking 2025 to 2035.

Tasting Notes

Aromas of lime, slate, chalk and fresh citrus fruits leap out of the glass atop a concentrated, citrus and pineapple fruit on the palate. Layers of mineral and citrus on the finish with racy acidity.

Critic Notes

Bruce Sanderson writes:  This white shows intensity, offering plenty of succulent peach and floral aromas and flavors. Clean, lemony acidity keeps the palate refreshed, with a chalky feel in the end. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 88-91 Points | Notes of wet stone, apple, carnation and spice lead to round and supple but slightly denser medium weight flavors that seem almost easy-going on the mid-palate before instantly tightening up on the balanced if youthfully austere finale that could also benefit from developing more depth.

Expert Reviews

Allen Meadows Burghound 89-92 Points  | A very Meursault nose of white fleshed fruit, acacia blossom, hazelnut and a whiff of citrus character introduces rich and seductively textured medium weight flavors that flash a lovely minerality that adds a sense of lift to the bitter lemon-tined finale. This is also an excellent villages and worth considering.

Jasper Morris 90-92 Points | Mid lemon and lime. The bouquet is not overtly weighty. The hillside vineyards and those below complement each other. There is certainly excellent energy beneath here a fine thread to freshen the weight of white orchard fruit. Impeccable village Meursault.

Expert Reviews

Allen Meadows Burghound 91-93 Points | Here too the nose is quite fresh with its combination of apple, white flowers and just sliced citrus, especially lemon. There is both excellent punch and a lovely texture though only average density to the lingering and balanced finish where a touch of youthful austerity slowly emerges. While this could be enjoyed young, it has apparent development potential so at least a few years of keeping are recommended. (2022). 

Vinous 93-94 Points | The 2022 Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru had a lot of reduction when I tasted it from barrel though its intensity was clear. The palate is very promising: wonderful tension here steely and spicier than the Meursault Village with touches of fennel and white pepper on the finish. Quite feisty and surely one for long-term aging. (Drink between 2026-2048).

This is an estate-level, lighter, dry Chardonnay at a great price. Think of it like a German Petite Chablis.

Notes of tropical fruits and the minerality of limestone with a toasty finish. The wine has a fine texture and fullness that makes the incredible food friendly.

Winemaker Description 

Clean and bright aromas with notes of Empire apple and Asian pear. Flavors of mandarin orange, pear, honeydew melon and cantaloupe are enhanced with a pleasant acidity that lingers on the finish.

Winemaker Description

Clean and bright aromas with notes of Empire apple and Asian pear. Flavors of mandarin orange, pear, honeydew melon and cantaloupe are enhanced with a pleasant acidity that lingers on the finish.

Winemaker Description

The depth and complexity of old-vine Chardonnay are showcased in the enticingly expansive orange blossom, white peach, rose petal, and manuka honey nose of the 2022 Belle Côte Chardonnay. The rich texture on entry builds to a broad, structured mid-palate with a creamy, viscous mouthfeel with intense orange marmalade flavors and accents of clove and nougat leading to a round, seamless finish. A balanced, yet powerful wine that promises to reward several years of cellaring.

Expert Ratings 

98 Points Robert Parker |  tasted the 2022 Chardonnay Belle Côte from tank shortly before it was due to be bottled. It's lively and generous with singular scents of lemon drop, pie crust and toasted meringue, plus integrated tones of matchstick and allspice. The medium-bodied palate is defined by its lacy, lightly mouth-coating texture. Its deep core of creamy, lemony flavors is enlivened by mouthwatering acidity, and its juxtaposition of depth and energy calls you back for another sip.

94 Points Wine Spectator | This powerful version opens with a toasty mix of spices, buttery toasted brioche and carmelized apple pastry. Offers plenty of plump ripe peach, apricot and melon flavors, with a note of marmalade at the core. Candied ginger, graham cracker, salted, toasted almond and marzipan linger on the finish.

Winemaker Deswcription

Jean-Marc Boillot was one of the younger generation in Burgundy who was determined to improve his family’s wines. In 1984, after vinifying 13 vintages at the family’s domaine, Henri Boillot, Jean-Marc walked out in protest, intent on producing highly concentrated, rich, and ripe wines. He became the winemaker for Olivier Leflaive for the next four years and at the same time produced wines from 5-acres of vineyards, bottled under his own label. The wines impressed Boillot’s grandfather, who bequest half his vineyard to Jean-Marc. Boillot runs his domaine from his grandfather Henri Boillot’s house and cellars in the village of Pommard. Jean-Marc’s maternal grandfather was the late Etienne Sauzet, from whom he also inherited exceptional vineyards.

The 2021 Macon-Villages has a clear and brilliant appearance with a silver luster and green reflections. The bouquet is a range of delicate and generous fruits. In the mouth the wine shows a creamy texture with a beautiful balance between refreshing sweet fruit flavors and juicy, mouthwatering acidity. A wine to be enjoyed immediately. 

Clean pale yellow color and green reflections. A nice brilliance. The nose is fresh and fruity, ripe and round with discrete vanilla and brioche scents. On the mouth, the wine is dense and rich, fresh and subtle with a good length and finesse. Overall, the wine is nicely balanced, fresh, elegant and with a long finish. Winemaker Description. 

88 Points Wine Spectator | Features flint and gooseberry aromas and flavors that suggest Chablis, along with the delicate profile and lemon notes. Vibrant and charming, with moderate length. Drink now. 1,000 cases imported.

The 2022 DAOU Chardonnay displays a rich, ample nose of pineapple, vanilla bean, mango, hazelnut and nutmeg spice. Floral tones of honeysuckle and star jasmine are accented by sweet ginger and lemon zest. The palate is weighty and mouth-filling, delivering round, silky flavors of Bartlett pear, Crenshaw melon, kiwi and fresh pineapple.

Notes of Golden Delicious apple and papaya are complemented with lemon cream pie and crushed almonds, while hints of white peach, citrus peel and cinnamon linger on a long, graceful finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

A 'Blanc de Blancs' champagne is a type of champagne that is made exclusively from white grape varieties, typically Chardonnay. This style of champagne is known for its elegance, finesse, and bright acidity.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay is crafted in a fresh, soft style with juicy citrus and apple fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to create this complex yet approachable, food-friendly style. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

This airy Champagne has light emerald reflections with precise nose with lime and tangerine notes with subtle minerality. On the palate, the champagne is fresh and harmonious with tones of flint and chalk. The long and salivating finish is punctuated by pleasant and fine salinity. 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2017 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, which is as usual, an exchange with Jean-Michel Chartron, has a crisp and precise bouquet with touches of yellow flower and crushed stone complementing the citrus fruit. The palate is very well balanced with beautifully integrated oak (one-year old rather than new), leading to a precise, almost Meursault-like finish. Superb. 

It has a very detailed, slightly flinty, perhaps reserved bouquet that opens reluctantly in the glass. The palate is taut on the entry, hints of white chocolate infusing the citrus fruit, nicely balanced with a harmonious and elegant finish. Winemaker Description.

Expert Review

91 Points Robert Parker | The 2015 Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Grand Cru was stubbornly backward and broody on the nose: hints of yellow flower and struck flint. Nosing this felt like I was disturbing its prenatal slumber. The palate had more to say. It is well balanced with a brush of honey on the entry, a keen thread of acidity, a hint of spice with a composed yet straight-laced finish that I find less expressive than the Corton-Charlemagne at the moment. Let’s see how this turns out in bottle. It’s a Montrachet, though that does not necessarily mean it is Drouhin’s finest white this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2038.

Winemaker Description

Like all great white wines, Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche deserves to accompany the best fish and shellfish dishes, such as lobster or crabmeat in a light wine sauce; salmon, trout or Dover sole simply grilled or poached. The wine should be served no colder than 13°C (57°F). 

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Advocate | The 2020 Meursault Village has turned out beautifully in bottle, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp Anjou pear, lemon zest, freshly baked bread, blanched almonds, pastry cream and apple blossom. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, its textural attack segues into a fleshy, precise mid-palate that's animated by racy acids, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. It's another terrific rendition of this benchmark cuvée.

There is a very nice balance between freshness and liveliness combined with richness and precision. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 90 Points:  The latest rendition of Ruinart's NV Blanc de Blancs unwinds in the glass with scents of citrus zest, green apple, white flowers and fresh bread. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and incisive, with a vibrant core of fruit and brisk acids, complemented by a mouth-filling mousse, it concludes with a saline finish.

James Suckling 93 Points:  A vibrant and refreshing Champagne with a bright, enticing nose of lemon (fresh and candied) and sliced pear, as well as some floral and passion-fruit notes. Lovely balance of juicy fruit and acidity that dances nimbly across the palate. A biscuit note from lees lies in the background. Delicate, silky and finish. A blend of wines from Côtes des Blanc, Montagne de Reims and Sézanne. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator 93 Points: Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator: "Steeped apricot and candied ginger flavors are an aromatic entry for this graceful Champagne, backed by finely cut acidity and layered with accents of kumquat, toast point and salted Marcona almond. It's fresh and racy, yet there's an effortless quality to the integration that makes this hard to stop sipping. Long, minerally finish. Drink now through 2027.