Davis Bynum “River West Vineyard” Chardonnay 2014
At Davis Bynum the mission of the winery has always been to create handcrafted wines from the Russian River Valley. One of the few wineries in California that is producing affordable wines from grapes they grow themselves. The legacy of Davis Bynum as a farmer first lives on a decade after he retired from the winery. We recently had a visit with their New England sales rep for a tasting of the current releases.
One taste of this Chardonnay and we stood up and took notice of the excellent expression of Russian River Valley fruit and the balance we find so often in Chardonnay from this place.
It has been said that Chardonnay shows the hand of the winemaker more than other varietals. Our winemaker, Greg Morthole, believes there is some truth in that, but also believes the best vineyard sites yield fruit that distinctively express the characteristics of their location.
Winemaking is light handed, with timely and deliberate choices made to craft a wine that genuinely reflects the vineyard and vintage. We like River West to show balance and restraint, rather than influencing it too much with winemaking decisions.
Beautiful aromas of baked Fuji apples, lemon custard and white flowers. On the palate the wine opens up with toasty brioche, hazelnut and baking spice, with a lush finish that is balanced with acidity and a rich creaminess. Enjoy this Chardonnay with creamy cheeses, vegetable risotto or grilled halibut.
“The 2014 Chardonnay River West Vineyard has an appealing struck match and savory character over a core of pineapples, guava and apricots, plus a suggestion of toasty oak. Medium-bodied, it has a lovely silkiness to the texture and plenty of tropical fruit and toasty flavors on offer in the mouth with a lively line of acid lending freshness, finishing long. Yeah, I just love finding great value wines like this that are produced in decent quantities and over-deliver on quality! 91 points.” Wine Advocate
“From a site on Westside Road, this vineyard-designate boasts a rich experience aromatically and flavor-wise, revealing graham cracker, peach, lime and green apple alongside salty acidity. The oak (34% of it new French) plays a pleasant, supportive role, adding a note of brioche. 90 points.” Wine Enthusiast
