2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

LA FOLLETTE 2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

2016 CHARDONNAY
LORENZO VINEYARD

 
There are several key qualities that I look for in absolutely top-quality Chardonnay.  First I look at color intensity, and evaluate it for a golden hue that’s both striking and pure.  Next, is aroma, and I want to smell both complexity and precision detail. On the palate, the most important thing that I seek is balance.  A great Chardonnay can be rich, and opulent, but it needs to be finely threaded with enough acidity to be refreshing, and to not fall flat.  I found all of the above in a glass of 2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay, and it turns out I wasn’t alone… With 94-95 Point scores from Robert Parker and Jeb Dunnuck, this micro-produced Chardonnay is screaming for your attention.  At under $40, it’s truly one of the best examples California Chardonnays that I’ve tasted in years.
 
La Follette is all about showcasing terroir, and their goal is to create a wine that is transparent to the individual site from which it was hewn.  The Lorenzo Vineyard lies in the middle of Sonoma’s Iconic Russian River Valley AVA and the vineyard gets plenty of cooling fog in the mornings and evenings which help the grapes maintain acidity throughout their lifecycle.  The 10 acre vineyard is planted to Old Wente Clone, which is a classic Chardonnay clone preferred for producing wines with intense aromatics, and rich textures.  With just 128 cases produced, I wouldn’t wait to secure yours.
 
LA FOLLETTE
2016 CHARDONNAY
LORENZO VINEYARD
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl  
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A step up, the 2016 Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard comes from a vineyard in the Russian River and spent ten months in 20% new French oak. It has riveting notes of caramelized lemons, white flowers, salty minerality, and toasted bread. Clean, pure, medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity and a great finish, it has a racy, vibrant style that’s backed up by terrific intensity and depth. It’s a beauty.  95 Points
“The 2016 Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard has gregarious scents of honeycomb, pink grapefruit, green mango and nectarines with touches of croissant and apple blossom. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate with great tension and tightly wound mineral and tropical layers, finishing with great length and depth. 128 cases produced.” 94 Points
 
Customers who enjoy La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay  may also enjoy these two terrific Chardonnays…
2017 Vine Cliff Los Carneros Chardonnay
2017 Montagu Durell Vineyard Chardonnay
VINE CLIFF
2017 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS 
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “.. opens up with inviting citrus notes of Meyer lemon and mandarin orange, followed by floral notes of honey suckle, and jasmine. A second breath of wine takes you to a place of minerals, with hints of flint and wet stones. The gentle kiss of oak seems to seep through the fruit ever so slowly. The beauty of this vintage is reflected by the perfect balance between fruit, oak, and acid. The palate exhibits a depth of fruit flavors ranging from golden delicious apple, tangelo, and nectarine. On the finish the wine ends with a medley of honey, citrus, and floral notes.”
MONTAGU
2017 CHARDONNAY
DURELL VINEYARD
Retails at:  $55/btl
 

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Winery Notes: This Chardonnay hails exclusively from the DurellVineyard in Sonoma Coast. The Chardonnay is bright, powerful, and driven by a flinty minerality balanced with tropical fruit notes of white peach, honeyed apricots, and lemon curd with hints of mint and citrus. This wine was fermented in French barrels and spent one year in barrel leading to wonderfully balanced oak integration while sur lee aging developed rich complexity.”