Tor Kenward
My, what a difference a year makes. In the past, Tor released his chardonnays in February. This year, we won’t see the 2015 vintage until we are well into summer. For those who are “jonesing” for some great Chardonnay, fear not. I was able to grab some of the great remaining 2014s (plus a sneak peak of the 2015 Torchiania). With an extra year of age, these wines are tasting…..well….fabulous.
To refresh your memories, I am going to let Tor describe the wines and add the Parker scores:
Vintage
“Well, yet another great vintage. The question for me is how will it fit in as time passes with the other the recent greats; 2012, 2013, and 2015. There is not a weak sister here. These are vibrant, different vintages and any one of them could go all the way to the Super Bowl of wine, whatever that is. So let’s take a look at the personalities and handicap them. 2012; abundant, round rich full bodied from beginning to now: has not missed a beat. 2013; more sinew and structure, needing more time but delicious just the same from beginning but not as evolved early on as 2012. 2014; to me it is stuck someplace in the middle personality-wise between 2012 and 2013. It has more structure than 2012, more flesh than 2013. It may be a vintage like 1995, which surpassed the more headlined 1994. Dry winter, wet spring, long even growing season, easy harvest – not as abundant a crop as 2012 and 2013. Sleeper vintage that I think with time will hold its own against its good looking brothers and sisters”.
Winemaking
“Very Burgundian in style. Barrel fermented in small French cooperage, favoring premium three year dry-aged barrels. Primary coopers – Saury, Remond and Francois Freres. Fermentations begin with native yeast strains for primary and secondary and the wines receive the minimal amount of handling through the aging period. Bottled unfined, unfiltered; we work hard to bring honest and true expression of the vineyard to you”.
The Wines
2015 Torchiana, Beresini Vineyard
The only 2015 in the offer, I was able to grab some of Tor’s flagship Chardonnay.
Now in the seventh vintage with the Beresini vineyard, I think I understand what this vineyard provides every year. The Torchiana is an amazing mix of bright acids and minerality (same soils as the Hyde and Hyde vineyard bud wood) but with a more intense, dense, rich, mid-palate. This has the great tropical flavors - as well as a floral note to it - but there is always a depth and richness to this wine that is so rare to find.
94 pts Robert Parker
2014 Hyde Vineyard, Carneros
The 2014 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay is exactly what fans of this vineyard love about this site. It has beautiful lemon curd, pineapple and sea spray. The palate shows the fantastic bright acidity that is a trademark of this site. As always, I look at the wine almost as the closest thing you can get to a California White Burgundy.
92+ pts Robert Parker
2014 Durell, Sonoma Valley
The 2014 Durell Chardonnay ranks right up there with the best Durells we have ever made. This has the classic seamless, almost oily palate weight and texture to it that the best Durells have but with a thread of focus that helps to pull the intensity of the palate together. This shows mandarin oranges, stone fruits and an almost cut wet grass note to it. This is intense, rich and seamless - another classic Durell Vineyard Chardonnay.
94 pts Robert Parker
2014 Reserve Chardonnay, Best Barrels
This is the first Reserve Chardonnay from TOR, so you know we are crazy about it. This is a best barrel blend of Torchiana, Durell and Hyde. As such, it shows the oily richness from Durell, the vibrant acidity of the Hyde and the intense mid-palate weight of the Torchiana. Without question a candidate for the best Chardonnay we have ever made. A true benchmark California Chardonnay.
96 pts Robert Parker
The Offer
2015 Torchiana $60
2014 Hyde Vineyard $60
2014 Durell Vineyard $60
2014 Reserve $84
Ordering
For all questions and orders, contact Wine Director, Jeff McCarthy. Let us know if you would like your wine shipped or placed in your wine locker. Sales tax and appropriate shipping will be added to all orders. Allow 2-3 weeks for account processing and shipping. During extreme weather, wine orders may be held until it is safe to ship.
Jeff McCarthy, Wine Director
[email protected]
707.569.2906 |
