Wine Spectator:  Rated as Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style.  "Bold, rich and full-bodied, with succulent fig, apricot, smoky oak and roasted marshmallow flavors that are complex and distinctive, finishing with a long, intricate finish and subtle flavor notes. Drink now through 2015."  Feb 2010

Winery:  "Aromas are concentrated and complex – white flower, sweet cream, ripe peach, lemon oil and wet stone – leading to a palate anchored with rich minerality and tropical and stone fruit. A clean acidity and mouth-filling texture unite pear, pineapple and sweet orangefruit with subtly sweet brown spice and honeyed toast. This wine’s balanced and structured palate and bright fruit indicate its age-worthiness; it can be cellared and enjoyed for at least five to seven years.  The 2007 season was perfect for growing Chardonnay. Ideal weather through harvest allowed grapes from every block to reach desired ripeness. Bottled without fining or filtration, nothing has been added to or taken away from the wine’s distinctly ‘Chalk Hill’ character."

Wired For Wine:  The Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay is rich, complex and distinctive at the very least, a truly memorable example of a full-bodied, beautifully balanced Chardonnay.  It will pair well with chicken, shellfish, butter and cream sauces, and salmon.  For lunch, or a terrific starter, we love the clean acidity of this Estate Chardonnay with a rich corn and crab chowder.  Another great option for lunch or a starter which will bring out the smoky oak in this wine is smoked salmon on a potato pancake drizzled with a crème fraiche/chive sauce.  When moving on to main courses, the complex, full body of this Chalk Hill couldn't be better next to a big plate of buttermilk fried chicken.  Make sure there's plenty of salt and pepper in the dredging flour.  A simpler route would be to grill your favorite white fish and dress it with a creamy ginger sauce; it will pick up the notes of honey and toast fabulously.  In general, the beautiful and bright fruit of this distinctive Chardonnay will pair like a pro with Hawaiian and South Florida cuisines that rely heavily on tropical flavors.  Some Asian dishes with hoisin and oyster sauce will play to the smoky oak and toast in this Chalk Hill.  What are you hungry for?

Size:  750ml
Varietal:  100% Chardonnay
Vinification:  100% malolactic fermentation in barrel with weekly bâtonnage
Ageing:  12 months in
Alcohol:  14.9%
Region: Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California