"Intense and focused on pure, ripe, mineral-laced apple, melon and floral honeysuckle scents. Full-bodied, layered, rich and concentrated, this exhibits a vibrant, youthful personality. Drink now through 2014." (WS)
"Elegance combined with power, and subtle smoky wood and hazelnut notes are found in the rich, medium to full-bodied, fresh 2008 Chardonnay Richard Dinner Vineyard.
Readers looking for wines packed with flavor as well as personality can do no better than uber-consultant Paul Hobbs’ line-up of Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Syrahs. All of his bottled wines showed even stronger than they did from barrel tastings. All of these Chardonnays spend between 10 and 16 months in barrel, with the percentage of new oak ranging from 80% (for the Cuvee Agustina), 70% (for the Walker Station), and 55-65% for the Ritchie, Ulises Valdez, and Richard Dinner cuvees. The 2008 Chardonnays, while very good, are not up to the level of the flawless 2007s. The 2008 Pinot Noirs performed well, although they are slightly lower-keyed wines without the structure and density of the 2007s. Paul Hobbs produces Syrah from the Kick Ranch Vineyard, which is in the so-called Petaluma Wind Gap (lots of wind and a cool coastal temperature)." (WA)
"Bottlings such as this beg the question: At what point is there too much of a good thing. So very rich and so very deep and so very swathed in sweet oak as to provide for some an affirmative answer, this lavish, downright opulent wine may teeter on the brink of losing control, but we confess that we are happy to follow it right to the edge. It is big; it is dramatic; and it is so wonderfully rich. And, it requires pairing with dishes like roasted game birds or salmon in flavorful sauces in order to find suitable mealtime mates." (CG)
Winery Notes:
This small, hillside vineyard has been the source for a truly distinctive chardonnay that we have been producing since our winery's founding in 1991. Full-bodied, fruit- and mineral-driven, it is pale gold and perfumed with lime rind and honeydew. The unctuous palate is satiny and viscous, brimming with succulent flavors of Golden Delicious apple, peach, fig and citrus oil. Hints of vanilla custard and bright, intense minerality intermingle over a lasting finish. Alcohol 14.7% |
