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2010 Lange Twins Chardonnay Estate Grown Clarksburg AVA
- Chardonnay
- Written by Fred Swan
- Created on Monday, 29 April 2013 22:08
The Lange family has been growing grapes in Lodi since 1916. They have expanded their land holdings and areas of involvement within the wine business substantially over the years. In 2006 they established the Lange Twins Winery which produces wine under that label as well as Caricature and Green Hills. David Akiyoshi is the head winemaker. Prior to joining Lange Twins he was director of winemaking at Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi which is also in the Lodi area. (David is also proprietor of School Street Bistro in downtown Lodi. I've eaten there twice and recommend it.)
Lange has vineyards in both the Lodi and Clarksburg AVAs. This Chardonnay comes from Clarksburg, a growers’ region with 7,000 acres under vine but just 12 wineries. The area is capable of ripening high-yielding vines but cooling breezes coming off of the Sacramento River and its delta help to maintain acidity in the grapes.
The 2010 Lange Twins Estate Chardonnay offers pleasing aromas of green apple, pear, spice and yogurt. It is medium-plus in body with food-friendly acidity and a very light texture on the tongue with flavors of green apple, tart stone fruit, lemon and a touch of minerality. This is a solid effort, something I’d be happy to find in my glass at a backyard party. And at just $15 suggested retail and 13.9% alcohol it is a good choice for pool-side sipping, cookouts and weeknight dinners. Drink now through 2014. Recommended.
2010 Lange Twins Chardonnay Estate Grown Clarksburg AVA 
Rating: Recommended
Drink: now through 2014
Closure: Screwtop
Retail Price: $15.00
Winemaker: David Akiyoshi
Origin: Estate vineyards, Clarksburg AVA
Alcohol: 13.9%
Service Recommendations
Decanting: Not recommended
Temperature: 50º - 54º F
Food Pairings: seafood, salads, chicken
Disclosures: The FTC has tightened its guidelines with respect to online ads, reviews, blogs, etc. in response to people who are passing paid adds off as personal recommendations or who getting samples of expensive hard goods in exchange for reviews. My lengthy disclosure here is meant to address those guidelines.
The review above reflects my personal experience with the product. It is not a paid ad, nor do I accept ads or compensation for reviews directly from wine producers. I’m a professional wine writer not a shill. Reviews may cover products that I have purchased, received as samples, or tried under other circumstances I consider to be good tasting conditions. Receiving a product as a sample does not obligate me to review it positively (or at all) and I do not consider samples to be compensation or “free wine.” I have purchased plenty of wine over the years and have more of that than I can drink. Samples are opened for review purposes, not added to my personal cellar or taken to restaurants.
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This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2013 NorCal Wine. All rights reserved. Photo courtesy of Lange Twins Winery.
2011 Roar Chardonnay Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
- Chardonnay
- Written by Fred Swan
- Created on Sunday, 21 April 2013 21:18
The 38-acre Sierra Mar vineyard, owned by Gary Franscioni, was planted in 2007. It’s up in the hills in the southern third of the AVA and includes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier and the Hyde-clone Chardonnay used in this Roar estate wine. For more information about the area see Spotlight on the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.
Clear and day bright, despite being bottled unfined, the 2011 Roar Sierra Mar Chardonnay has a beautiful, effusive nose of fresh pear and apple with baking spice and a dusting of mineral. The palate is nearly full-bodied and intensely flavorful but supple and juicy. There is a strong core lightly-buttered pear. Apple, baking spice and a texture of very light chalk add interest. A pure and delicious Chardonnay. Drink now through 2018. Very Highly Recommended.
2011 Roar Chardonnay Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
Rating: Very Highly Recommended
Drink: now through 2018
Release Date:
Closure: Cork
Production: 264 cases
Retail Price: $45.00 (sold out at the winery)
Winemaker: Ed Kurtzman
Origin: Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Fermentation: 100% ML
Aging: 14 months in French oak (45% new, 55% one-year)
Alcohol: 14.4%
Service Recommendations
Decanting: Not required
Temperature: 50º - 54º F
Food Pairings: Mahi Mahi with Hazelnut and Panko crust
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This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2013 NorCal Wine. All rights reserved.
2010 Frostwatch Chardonnay Bennett Valley Sonoma County
- Chardonnay
- Written by Fred Swan
- Created on Friday, 19 April 2013 17:34
Frostwatch is a small, family owned-and operated vineyard in Bennett Valley. They produce Chardonnay, a white Bordeaux-varietal blend called Kismet (which I’ve reviewed previously), Pinot Noir and Merlot from that AVA. The Sonoma in the City tasting ended before I could taste the Chardonnay, but one of Frostwatch’s friendly neighbors made sure I left with a bottle to try at home. This review is based on that bottle
The 2010 Frostwatch Chardonnay is a little bit foggy in the glass because the wine is fined but not filtered. The elegant nose offers yellow apple, candle wax, pear, baking spice and a little wood. It’s also a wine of excellent tension and gentle complexity on the palate, nearly full-bodied and juicy with moderately drying talc-like texture. Flavors include apple, pear, baking spice, wood and a hint of cream. Medium-plus finish. A very enjoyable wine with or without food. Drink now through 2016. Highly Recommended.
2010 Frostwatch Chardonnay Bennett Valley Sonoma County
Rating: Highly Recommended
Drink: now through 2016
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Closure: Cork
Production: 175 cases
Retail Price: $30.00
Winemaker: Brett Raven
Origin: Frostwatch estate vineyard, Bennett Valley AVA, Sonoma County
Fermentation: native yeast in Burgundian barrels for primary and malolactic fermentations
Aging: 17 months in French oak, 28% new
Alcohol: 14.1%
Service Recommendations
Decanting: Not required
Temperature: 50º - 54º F
Food Pairings: roast chicken, spaghetti alla carbonara
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This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2013 NorCal Wine. All rights reserved.
2009 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Russian River Selection
- Chardonnay
- Written by Fred Swan
- Created on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 23:43
The Gary Farrell Winery is located on a hilltop in the Russian River Valley. The views from its tasting room are spectacular. Having a glass of this 2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay in hand will make your visit even better.
Gary Farrell Winery lies above the fog in the wooded hills of the Russian River Valley
The 2009 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Russian River Selection is a wine of delicious contrasts. The nose is friendly and giving with aromas of baked, spiced apple, lemon curd, cinnamon, vanilla and notes of yeast. The palate is medium-plus in body with notable acidity that easily balances the weight. The lively flavors of yellow apple, baking spice, wood, toffee and creme brulée are long-lasting. This is a classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay that is both fresh and flavorful. Drink now through 2014. Highly Recommended.
2009 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Russian River Selection
Rating: Highly Recommended
Drink: Now through 2014
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Origin: Russian River Valley AVA
Alcohol: 14.2%
Closure: Cork
Production: 2,237 cases
Retail Price: $32.00
Service Recommendations
Decanting: Not required
Temperature: 54º - 56º F
Food Pairings: Roast chicken panzanella
The wine above was provided by the winery for review.
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This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2012 NorCal Wine. All rights reserved.
2010 Donati Family Sorelle per Sempre Central Coast Unoaked Chardonnay
- Chardonnay
- Written by Fred Swan
- Created on Friday, 13 January 2012 22:26
Donati Family Vineyards produced their first wines from the 2003 vintage. Much of the fruit comes from their own vineyard in the Paicines AVA which the Donati’s purchased in 1998. That AVA is in the northeastern San Benito County lowlands where it’s cooled at night by sea air rushing inland toward the Central Valley. In addition to Chardonnay, Donati Family grows Pinot Blanc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
The Donati Family Vineyards tasting room is well-located in Templeton (south Paso Robles) very near the Cypher and Turley tasting rooms. It is open to the public every day, from 10am to 5pm. Templeton is a much more convenient spot for wine tasting than Paicines which is deep in farm country.
The 2010 Donati Family Sorelle per Sempre Unoaked Chardonnay is a good food wine. It is, of course, unoaked. It also avoids the excessive ripeness, sweetness and viscosity. The nose offers an attractive spectrum of fruit — green apple, pineapple and canned pear — and pretty white blossoms. The palate is dry and medium-plus in body with a smooth approach but gentle, lingering acidity. Pear flavors gradually give way to peach pit and grapefruit pith. It will be perfect for tajine-cooked chicken with green olives and preserved lemon, but will do just fine with creamy cheeses or green salads. Recommended.
2010 Donati Family Sorelle per Sempre Central Coast Unoaked Chardonnay
Rating: Recommended
Drink: Now through 2013
Bottling Date: September 26, 2011
Closure: Screwtop
Production: 1006 cases
Retail Price: $16.00
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Origin: 100% Central Coast
Fermentation: Stainless steel
Aging: Stainless steel
Alcohol: 14.2%
The wine above was received as a sample from the winery.
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This article is original to NorCalWine.com. Copyright 2012 NorCal Wine. All rights reserved.
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