Mission Codename Jonesing
Oh hey.
Guess what? We got a good one today. A truly spectacular Chardonnay made by a total rockstar winemaker, from a highly sought after vineyard, at a price that defies understanding.
Let’s start with the man behind the wine, Julian Fayard. The French born winemaker extraordinaire learned a few things at Châteaux Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte before arriving stateside to set the 100-point standard at places like Quintessa, Realm, and Covert Estate. Cal Nicholson brought him on board to make nothing less than the absolute best wine possible.
Anyone who appreciates that lush, flashy style should be all over this. Once it hits your mouth the flavors just seem to expand like Alice when she ate that mushroom. The sheer depth of flavor is remarkable - heaps of butterscotch, golden pear, and pineapple up front. With ginger, orange blossom, candied lemon peel and a pleasant minerality filling out the remaining space. All wrapped up in a zippy while creamy texture.
Need affirmation by the wine media? Don’t bother to look around, these wines are WAY under the radar as their mailing list likes it that way. With a resume like Fayard’s who needs the press anyway?
At $38 this seems like a deal. At $19 the value is absurd. If you love the likes of Kistler or Peter Michael, or Morlet Family, or any number of similar fleshy, flashy Chardonnay, you’ll dig this.
And if you don’t get some, someone else will.
What the Winery Says
2015 'Dolly Hill' Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay
- Winemaker
- Julien Fayard
- Varietal
- 100% Chardonnay
- Vintage
- 2015
- Appellation
- Carneros, Sonoma Coast
- Vineyard
- Truchard Vineyard
- Alcohol
- 13.8%
- Aging
- 12 months
- Vessels
- 100% stainless steel
- Production
- 8 barrels