Robert Young Estate Winery
2011 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Chardonnay •Robert Young Estate
California: Sonoma County: Alexander Valley
Mission Briefing
The Gold Standard
Today’s 2011 Alexander Valley Chardonnay is a bit of a step back in time for our Agent Red. He began his Wine Spies career at Robert Young Estate Winery. After spending an afternoon tasting their wines and meeting the folks who craft them, he knew that he had found his calling.
And today’s wine is certainly one to convince you just how delicious California Chards can be. The wine is a beautiful golden color, with aromas of warm tropical fruit and honeycomb leaping from the glass, just enticing you to take that first sip. Once you do take that first sip, you’re greeted by a cascade of flavors, leading with baked pear and roasted almonds, and finishing with hints of clove and white pepper. This wine is one serious Chardonnay.
Please don’t miss out on today’s Alexander Valley gem - with only 50 cases produced, it won’t last long!
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Pure gold through and through - no ifs, ands, or buts about it. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | A lovely blend of warm tropical fruit, highlighted by pineapple and guava, with just-ripened white peach. These fruit forward aromas are joined by hints of Meyer lemon, orange blossom, honeycomb, toasted oak, and a bit of a buttery brioche. |
| Taste: | A very well balanced flavor profile, with tremendous oak integration. Baked pear, dried apricot, and fresh honeydew melon present themselves immediately, quickly trailed by roasted almonds, creamy vanilla bean, buttery brioche, and orange oil. |
| Finish: | The mouthfeel is beautifully full and lush, with white pepper and clove flavors on the finish that linger with you. This is a serious Chardonnay. |
| Pairing: | A creamy grilled corn and bay shrimp risotto. |
What the Winery Says
- Winemaker
- Kevin Warren
- Appellation
- Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
- Vineyard
- Robert Young Estate Vineyard
- Fruit Variety
- 100% Clone 17 Chardonnay
- Fermentation
- 100% Barrel Fermentation
- Cooperage
- 14 months in 100% French oak
- ABV
- 14.4%