Reviews & Ratings

2011 Dutton Goldfield Chardonnay "Dutton Ranch"

Winery: Dutton Goldfield

Vintage: 2011

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Dutton Ranch"

Wine Category: Chardonnay

Grape blend: 100% Chardonnay

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Russian River Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $35

Cases produced: 3,286

KWG Score: 89.7 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: July 16, 2013

Wine Review: This light yellow colored Russian River Chardonnay opens with very inviting lemon and crème brulee like bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is an oak infused lemon with notes of green apple and a hint of butter. The finish is dry and its flavors linger very nicely. This Chard would be perfect with chicken cordon bleu. Enjoy – Ken

Winemaker Notes: As a winemaker, some wines you craft just perfectly suit your own tastes. The 2011 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay is definitely in this group; its combination of focus and opulence, plush fruit and steely minerality are exactly what we strive for in this bottling. The cold, damp 2011 season perfectly suited Dutton Ranch’s attentive farming, and the character of the old, dry farmed Chard vines. Their sparse canopy, low yield and great health produced concentrated fruit in a year where many were less pleased. The wine shows the crystalline citrus fruit and freshness so quintessential to this neighborhood. In the nose, it leads with lemon curd, buttercream and a touch of tangerine—fantastic concentration and focus. The mouth is refreshing and luscious at the same time. Meyer lemon, a hint of toffee, and mandarin orange fill out the middle, while the creamy tropical overtones round out the edges. The finish combines fresh citrus, sweet buttercream, bright acidity and a cleansing minerality that leaves you wanting more. This really is the perfect pairing wine, suiting everything from light appetizers and sushi to pasta in cream sauce and pork. Or, nothing at all.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Dutton Goldfield 2011 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay.