Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2019
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Winemaker Notes
Rich & golden, yet vibrant and zesty, this beautiful orchestra of Russian River Valley vineyards offers up enticing aromas of ripe nectarine, honeysuckle, lemongrass, and freshly baked brioche. Flinty, briny, and spicy, the palate is full-bodied and rich, yet remarkably mineral-driven, with flavors of roasted Meyer lemon, grapefruit, ginger, and just a kiss of lightly toasted oak. The beautiful saline quality balances the tangy acidity and lingering spice. Everything is nicely integrated, from the tangy entry to the long oily finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This outstanding wine offers a full-range of complex flavors, texture and depth, the grapes sourced from a who's who of sites, including Bacigalupi, West side Farms and Rochioli. Gravenstein apple, Meyer lemon, tangerine and quenching acidity meld with a butterscotch accent and a balanced, rich texture.
Editor's Choice
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James Suckling
Baked lemon, grapefruit and white peach mix on the nose. Medium-bodied with good presence and intensity. Bright, fresh acidity articulates the citrus and stone fruit as it washes over the palate.
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Wine Spectator
Fresh, offering crunchy acidity to the green apple and Key lime flavors that are well-knit, with a juicy richness and spiciness to the lithe finish. Drink now through 2024.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay looms large and with excellent persistence on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits lovely aromas and flavors of tart apple, lively citrus, and a trace of oak. Serve it with pan-fried Dover sole fillets. (Tasted: December 16, 2021, Santa Rosa, CA)
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Imagine a winemaking region just hours north of San Francisco rich in diversity and distinctive terroir, a well-kept secret tucked amongst the towering redwoods and influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Over half a century ago, pioneering growers recognized the Russian River Valley as a place that just might produce Pinot Noir that rivaled the villages of Burgundy. After decades of winemaking and selective planting, their valley has become internationally known for producing Pinot that is distinctly American and reflects the natural influences of their terroir.
Gary Farrell Winemaker, Theresa Heredia, grape growers and other winemakers within the Russian River Valley have always recognized that certain regions of the valley produced distinctly different wines. Since the 2014 Vintage, they have been monitoring whether characteristics like aroma, texture and others can be attributed to specific sections of the Valley. This deep dive into Russian River Pinot Noir has become the Neighborhoods Initiative that is also a hallmark of their Single Vineyard winemaking, and their elevated Salon experiences.
The concept of a neighborhood is truly an American idea, and is more concerned with defining the characteristics a specific cluster of vineyards produce than defining the geographical boundaries. It’s both a sense of community and terroir at the same time
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.