Cracked this last night w/ my fresh corn puddin':
1. DryCreekVnyds Chard FoggyOaksVnyd/RRV/SonomaCnty (13.5%; www.DryCreekVineyard.com; SaH: 23.6 Brix; pH: 3.09, TA: 0.61; 100% barrel frmtd; Clones 4 & 96) 2008: Med.light gold color; lovely melony/honeydew/Chard/quite spicy/nutmeg/clove somewhat perfumed/floral light toasty/oak some vanilla/lightly toasted marshmallow rather aromatic nose; fairly tart very spicy/nutmeg/melony/honeydew/Chard rather rich/balanced/suave/structured light vanilla/toasted/oak flavor; very long tart/balanced very spicy/nutmeg/melony/Chard light vanilla/toasted marshmallow/ZeroBar/oak finish w/ very long/lingering spicy/vanilla aftertaste; a lovely balanced/structured Chard that will go another 3-5 yrs; a very good value at $20.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. DryCreekVnyd is best known for their...well...DryCreek Vlly wines. But they've been dabbling a bit in RRV wines over the last few yrs, notably PinotNoir. This is their first RRV Chard, from their new FoggyOaks vnyd. Haven't a clue as to where it's located or who is nearby.
I've always liked to DCV Chards over the yrs. The show the classic elegance & restraint that DCV achieves w/ their wines. This Chard is a notch up from their previous Chards. One of the better ones I've had this year. It reminds me a bit of the Radio-Coteau Chards in style. I particularly liked the spiciness of this wine and its aromatics. Worth trying.
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2. I was a charter member of the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) Club and pretty much drifted away from Calif Chards in general. But not because I found them all "oaky/buttery/fat" (a term so many people delight in throwing at Calif Chard); but because I was finding a sameness to them. Besides, Calif Chard became sort of a cliche and I was far too sophisticated to drink those kinds of wines. So...I moved on to other whites...Viognier/Roussanne/GrenacheBlanc/Albarino/Picpoul/Vermentino...varieties that offered more variety and interest to me.
But over the last couple of yrs, I've been finding more & more to like about Calif Chard. They are showing more terroir than ever before. There is a greater diversity in style. There's just a lot more to the Chards that Calif is making these days.
So...be it known....I'm hearby renouncing my charter membership in the ABC Club and tearing up my membership card and demanding a refund of my dues (I was paid up thru 2020).
Tom