Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch Chardonnay 2019
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Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay is quintessential Russian River Valley. The wine opens with toasted almond, cedar shavings, butter cookie, tangerine peel and nutmeg aromas. The palate is filled with Meyer lemon, passionfruit, orange blossom and grapefruit flavors. Though crisp, and mouthwatering, there’s a compelling lushness to the mid-palate that leads to a nice mineral quality on the finish. Once again, Dutton Ranch has delivered a wonderfully age-worthy wine that captures the charm and complexity of some of Sonoma County’s best Chardonnay vines.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Firm, powerful and savory, with floral hints to the well-structured pippin apple and green pear flavors that are backed by vibrant acidity. Ends with hints of dried tarragon on the finish. Drink now through 2027.
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Decanter
Lean, tense acidity and gentle oak integration support a fresh grapefruit palate. Though slightly shy at the moment, it's an elegant wine that should open up and show a great complex array of fruits with age.
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One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.