Reviews & Ratings

2011 D R Stephens Chardonnay "Estate"

Winery: D R Stephens

Vintage: 2011

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Estate"

Wine Category: Chardonnay

Grape blend: 100% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Rutherford

State or country: CA

Price: $50

Cases produced: 330

KWG Score: 90.3 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (93)

Review date: July 15, 2013

Wine Review: This white gold colored Chardonnay from Rutherford is very good. It opens with a pleasant lemon and pear like bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, very nicely balanced, and smooth. The flavor profile is a very tasty Anjou pear with hints of minerals, light oak, butter, and a touch of pilsner beer and white pepper. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chard is very nice and food friendly. It would pair well with shrimp scampi. Enjoy – Ken

Winemaker Notes: The D. R. Stephens Estate 2011 Chardonnay is from the famed soils of Rutherford and the Star Vineyard. The mature Chardonnay vines are planted to Old Wente clone and are farmed impeccably by David Abreu. The cool, long growing season of 2011 gave us ample complexity and an abundance of aromatics including lemon rind, clove, flint, and a hint of exotic, tropical fruit. The palate is voluminous, yet retains great focus thanks to the very low pH. The lasting impression on the finish is one of focus and minerality, a great feat given the wine's Burgundian treatment of 100% malolactic with batonnage and barrel fermentation in French Oak. Aged on the lees for 11 months.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell D R Stephens 2011 Chardonnay.