Hendry Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2017
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Parker
Robert
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Yellow-gold. Complex aromatics include: ripe nectarine and apple fruit, fresh bread, flint, floral, and spice from the Cadus oak barrels. Full on the palate, with multiple layers of tangy nectarine and golden apple flavor, biscuit and pith. Long finish with a final flourish of green apple. Balanced. Warm.
Wide range of pairing options forthis multi-layered and rich wine include the usual suspects: grilled or baked salmon filets, Manchego cheese, white pizzas, crab cakes, chicken-- almost any preparation, or even pork loin or cutlets (bonus if there is citrus included in the sauce). This wine’s incredible food pairing versatility and non-malolactic, acidic brightness on the finish make friends for it on both sides of the Chardonnay divide.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Hendry Vineyard, where this Chardonnay comes from, is located at the northern border of the Carneros AVA. The clones are a mix of KD selection, Dijon 95 and Old Wente selection. It is barrel fermented and aged in French oak, about a third new, without racking, undergoing monthly battonage. There is no malo-lactic. The nose offers-up tantalizing tropical fruit scents of guava, green mango and pineapple tart with hints of toasted almonds and brioche. The palate is rich, satiny textured and full-bodied, delivering bags of pure, expressive fruit and loads of savory accents, finishing with great length. It has the stuffing to age for about a decade or more and should well reward a few years in cellar. Serious Chardonnay!
Rating: 93+
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The Hendry family has been farming the same vineyard in Napa since 1939. The lessons learned in more than 70 harvests provide us with a level of knowledge and a connection to the land that is rare in Napa. The Hendry Ranch is composed of 114 acres of vineyard situated in the hills north west of Napa. This latitude in the valley experiences substantial marine influence, and allows us to grow 10 different varietals, each carefully distributed among our 47 vineyard blocks. All Hendry wines are made from estate grapes, and 2011 will be the 20th vintage of the Hendry label. Through the subtle use of oak, and restraint in ripeness, our wines are crafted to highlight the terroir of the vineyard.
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.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.