Wine Enthusiast features the Gary Farrell 2017 Olivet Lane Chardonnay and Domaine Chanson 2018 Clos des Mouches Beaune Premier Cru in its recent article highlighting the top chardonnays from both France and California.
While both of these regions are well known for their Chardonnay plantings, the two countries produce vastly different wines. Burgundian Chardonnay can vary from the northerly Chablis to Pouilly-Fuissé. Chablis offers yellow citrus, green apple and pear, and the flavors ripen as you head south, into yellow plum, peach and melon […] In California, winemakers in the Napa and Sonoma have begun to experiment with leaner, more elegant styles than before.
The article includes Wine Enthusiasts 9 top wines from the two regions. The Gary Farrell 2017 Olivet Lane Chardonnay received 94 points and the following review: “Bright, focused and fresh, this wine is defined by its lifted acidity and elongated texture. Apple, pear and nutmeg go along for the ride, punctuating the concentrated fruit core while honeysuckle lingers on the finish.” Similarly, the Domaine Chanson 2018 Clos des Mouches Beaune Premier Cru received 92 points and an equally great review: ” Lifted freshness, as from herb-scented lemons, rises from the glass. The concentrated palate of this wine has a gentle texture that lets fruit speak, edged with pithiness that lends even more mouthfeel. The drive and energy of 2018 are captured well. It finishes dry and poised.”
Read the full story HERE.
Nine-of-Our-Top-Chardonnays-from-France-and-California-_-Wine-Enthusiast-MagazineRelated Wines
Gary Farrell Winery
Gary Farrell Winery Olivet Lane Chardonnay 2017
Russian River Valley, California
Pellegrini’s Olivet Lane Vineyard was planted in 1975 to Wente selection on AXR rootstock. The vineyard sits on 65 acres of sloping bench land in the Santa Rosa Plain, in between the warmer Westside Road region and the cooler Green Valley,where warm summer days are moderated by cool breezes and chilly evening temperatures. The combination of low temperatures, regular fog intrusion and well drained loam, clay soils create an excellent environment for growing Chardonnay that develop cool-climate characteristics and impeccable acid at fairly low sugars.The wines from this vineyard simultaneously express power and finesse, and they do so with tremendous balance.
Related Producers
Domaine Chanson
Burgundy, France
Chanson is a true mid-size Domaine. Unlike many of their competitors, their wines are produced using the grower model rather than the négociant model. They have extensive holdings of over 111 acres of exclusively Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in the heart of Burgundy. Chanson is obsessed with maintaining a consistent quality level across the entire range. The wines have a seductive and distinctive style due to the rigorous approach to viticulture and vinification.
Gary Farrell Winery
Russian River Valley, California
For over 40 years, Gary Farrell Winery has crafted small-lot artisan wines capturing balance and stylistic elegance from some of the finest vineyard sites in the Russian River Valley. Since 2014, the current owners have been dedicated to enhancing Gary Farrell’s legacy with a single-minded focus on quality, relying on rigorous vineyard selection, outstanding grower relationships and superior quality fruit.