Reviews & Ratings

2005 Handley Cellars Chardonnay "Estate Vineyard"

Winery: Handley Cellars

Vintage: 2005

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Estate Vineyard"

Wine Category: Chardonnay

Grape blend: 100% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Anderson Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $20

Cases produced: 1,661

KWG Score: 86.6 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good (89.99-87)

Review date: September 10, 2007

Wine Review: This rich golden color wine opens with a classic California Chardonnay bouquet emphasizing vanilla and oak with hints of peaches and bananas. On the palate, this medium bodied wine is crisp and has lemon-lime like flavors. The finish is dry, soft, and quite subtle. The panel thought this wine would pair well with chicken sautéed in an apple & calvados reduction sauce. Enjoy – KWGTP

Winemaker Notes: With its beautiful pale golden color, this wine is pleasing to the eye as well as to the palate. Aromas of honeysuckle and ripe apples move to pear and apple flavors, with mineral accents. As the vines in our Estate Vineyard have matured, they produce grapes with well-developed flavors at much lower sugar levels, allowing us to produce flavorful Chardonnay with less alcohol. Lower alcohol, along with its complexity, fruit, pleasant acidity, and use of a large percentage of neutral oak, are all characteristics that make our Estate Chardonnay a welcome change from heavier Chardonnays on the market. These characteristics also make it very food friendly, complementing delicate white-fleshed fish as well as pasta with white sauce.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Chardonnay.