Patz & Hall Chardonnay 2009

Natalie's Review

Patz & Hall Chardonnay 2009, Sonoma Coast, California, USA: This gorgeous Chardonnay offers aromas of green apple, vanilla spice, and white peach. There's a grand elegance to it, with a luxuriously long finish. About 40% of the wine was fermented and aged in new French Oak barrels where the staves were aged/air dried for three years prior to coopering. Most barrels are air-dried for two years but the winery makes the extra investment in an additional year to leach any residual “green” tannins from the wood. That way, the wines get exposure to new wood without it overpowering it with too much smokiness. Both the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs spend no more than 10 months in barrel. The toastiness is subtle and beautifully woven into the fabric of the fruit. The grapes come from some of the most coveted vineyards in Sonoma. Toast to your good fortune in having a bottle (or three) of this wine!  200808  14.20%  XD  750 mL  $35.00  Score: 92/100. April 22, 2011  Full Review