Legacy Chardonnay 2016
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
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Jeb Dunnuck
Legacy used to be a part of Stonestreet, but today is its own label. The 2016 Chardonnay is terrific and comes from higher elevation sites in Alexander Valley. It was aged 11 months in 31% new French oak. With a mix of Old World/New World style in its buttered orchard fruits, citrus blossom, charcoal, and melon aromas and flavors, it's medium to full-bodied, has good concentration, and its bright acidity keeps everything fresh, focused, and tight. This gorgeously textured 2016 needs 2-4 years of cellaring and will drink nicely over the following decade.
Rating: 95+ -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Chardonnay opens with a quiet intensity of fresh apples, ripe pears and waxed lemon scents with nuances of baking bread, nutmeg and chopped nuts. Medium-bodied, the palate features great freshness cutting through the intense citrus and apple layers, finishing on a mineral note.
Rating: 93+
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.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.