2019 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay
92 points
Wine Enthusiast
This 2019 bottling of Durell Vineyard is a classic example of this venerable estate. Composed and complex, the nose shows orange peel, pear, green apple notes along with a hint of ocean salinity. The palate is fresh and vibrant with hints of nectarine and honey-dew melon that are framed by fine- grain acidity that keeps the texture light, elegant and refreshing.
2019 has proven to be an excellent year. The modestly wet winter lead to an unusual spring with six inches of rain falling in late May. The extra water caused particularly strong vine canopy growth necessitating extra leaf pulling to improve air flow and suppress diseases. No significant problems persisted as the vines moved into a delightful summer, with nicely warm days tempered by cool afternoon winds from the Pacific. Crop levels were average, with most sites needing very little thinning to achieve optimum balance. Harvest weather was particularly pleasant, with the fruit ripening evenly, and critically, not too quickly. The 2019 wines are showing rich, supple structures with fine grained, plush tannins supported by juicy, fresh fruit flavors and clearly defined vineyard characters. These precocious, delicious wines should require less cellar time to reach an ideal drinking stage.
Durell Vineyard is located in the southwestern part of the Sonoma Valley. Our 3.5-acre section of the vineyard is known as the “Sand Hill” block—a rolling section of uplifted sandy, ancient ocean floor offering superb drainage and austere, low-vigor soils. Though planted in the early 1990s, over the past several years, Sand Hill has been the focus of extensive viticultural work. This has further elevated the quality of the Dijon Clone 76 grapes from these two-decade old vines. The result is a powerfully textured wine that also offers alluring aromatics and bright, fresh fruit.
100% Whole-cluster pressed
100% Burgundian French oak barrels (30% new; 70% 1-2-year old)
Bottled without filtration to preserve the wine’s aromas and flavors and enhance aging potential
- Type:
- White
- Varietal:
- Chardonnay
- Region:
- California
- Appellation:
- Sonoma Valley
- Vintage:
- 2019
- Blend:
- 100% Chardonnay fruit
- Aging:
- Sur lie aged with weekly stirring
- Alcohol:
- 13.5%
- Fermentation:
- 100% indigenous yeast fermentations; 100% malo-lactic fermentation in barrel