Fama Wines
2011 El Diablo Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Chardonnay
California: Russian River Valley
Mission Briefing
Devil in the details
Today’s Fama Wines 2011 El Diablo Russian River Valley Chardonnay is, simply put, fantastic. We bet that if this was put into a blind taste test with more “well known” labels, today’s wine would come out near the top.
The flavors are bold and expressive, with plenty of exotic fruits blending with browned butter, give this wine a delicate complexity. The long and lingering finish coats the front of the mouth with silk, then slowly trails away with hints of soft baking spices. This wine comes from Heather Munden, an up-and-coming winemaker who recently launched her own label after serving as winemaker at St. Francis Winery.
At nearly 50% off, this wine will sell out FAST!
Tasting Profile
| Look: | A super pale straw yellow through and through. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Lush on the nose, with deep notes of brown butter laid overtop juicy apricot, white peach, mango, brioche, and toasty oak spice. |
| Taste: | Complex, with fresh exotic fruit notes of mango, guava, and honeydew layered overtop toasted oak, caramel, brown butter, and soft baking spices. |
| Finish: | Delicious and full, with just the right amount of acidity to balance against the sweetness. Caramel notes linger through the finish. |
| Pairing: | A savory, Indian-spiced carrot soup with ginger would pair beautifully with the sweet aspects of this wine. |
What the Winery Says
The 2011 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is rich, deep and exuberant. Juicy apricots, flowers, spices and butter take shape beautifully in this seamless, exotic beauty. The 2011 has put on considerable weight since I tasted it last year, but it still has plenty of minerality. Expressive white floral notes add lift on the finish, rounding out this gorgeous Chardonnay nicely. The 2011 spent 18 months in French oak barrels, 47% new. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.
- Winemaker
- Heather Munden
- Accolades
- Gold Medal - San Francisco International Wine Competition
- Appellation
- Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
- ABV
- 14.4
About the Winery
After graduating from the University of California, Davis, Heather Munden began her career as the Lab Director of Michel-Schlumberger Winery in Dry Creek Valley. She went on to gain international experience as a winery consultant in the Puglia region of Italy, and joined winemaking teams in Australia, Chile, and New Zealand.