TOR 2013 Chardonnays

It is very rare to do two wine offers from the same Vintner in one year. Because we normally receive only enough TOR Chardonnay for our list, I have never had the opportunity to share his Chardonnays with our Members. In the fall of 2014, I was fortunate enough to attend his fall preview and was able to procure an amount worthy of an offer. The Chardonnays will be released in the next few weeks.

On the 2013 Vintage Tor says:
“It is rare, and I look back now on 38 harvests, to have two vintages like 2012 and 2013 next to each other. Both would qualify in Bordeaux terms as vintages of the century. Both started early, had long and relatively even growing seasons, both had average to above average (depending on site) crop levels. Both gave us or most of us the opportunity when to pick when we wanted, which meant levels of ripeness was up to us. Ripeness is subjective in winemaking, but to us very specific. Think of that perfect peach at the farmers market. The grower made sure the tree was not over cropped, sustainably farmed, and that each peach had the opportunity to get sweet and ripe. Ripe meant the fruit was still firm, has good acid and tooth aching sweetness. Like that farmer, we chose to pick the moment just after the seeds lose their greenness and just before the clusters start to soften and lose their magic. It is a small window, and in 2013 we found it again and again. Peachy keen”.  Tor Kenward

Winemaking
“These Chardonnays were all made in a very traditional Burgundian fashion. What does that mean? For our Chardonnays we use native yeasts for primary and malolactic fermentations, we do not fine or filter the wines. We work hard to bring honest and true expressions of the vineyard to you, with the least amount of additions or subtractions."  Tor Kenward

The Wines

Short and sweet...a quick note about each wine followed by its Parker review:

2013 Torchiana Chardonnay | Robert M. Parker, Jr. Score: 94-96 | Drink 2014 - 2020
"The Torchiana Chardonnay has always been California meets Burgundy with the California intensity of fruit but the tremendous acidity of a great white Burgundy. This wine exhibits bright white flowers, lemon curd, tangerines and fabulous minerality. This is a white wine to actually decant, like you would a red wine. This is showing fantastic now but will not really hit its stride for another year or two and should age very easily for at least another five years. Once again, the tour de force of Tor’s Chardonnays is the 2013 Chardonnay Torchiana Beresini Vineyard. A light straw color with a greenish hue is followed by excellent notes of tangerines, apricots, peaches and a judicious touch of vanilla. Full-bodied, rich and layered but never heavy or ponderous, it should drink well for 4-6 years."

2013 Hyde Chardonnay | Robert M. Parker, Jr. Score: 91-94 | Drink 2014 - 2018
"If not for the extra weight, length and richness you would swear this wine were a white Burgundy. The Hyde vineyard is renowned for producing Chardonnay fruit that is bracing and intense in its youth, but ages wonderfully to later exhibit layer upon layer of flavors. The 2013 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay is a beautiful example of what the shy yielding Wente clones could do in 2013 with its intense minerals, stone fruit and bright Meyer lemon. As great as this will be in its youth it should only be more beautiful with a few years on it. The 2013 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard offers an exotic, mango, pineapple and other tropical fruit-scented bouquet, good acidity, a steely backbone, a fresh, full-bodied mouthfeel and terrific palate presence as well as freshness. Drink now-2018. Not yet released."

2013 Hudson | Robert M. Parker, Jr. Score: 90-92 | Drink 2014 - 2018
"In a lineup of the four 2013 Chardonnays - you can pick out the Hudson Chardonnay if you have had Hudson before - it just tastes like Hudson. The 2013 Hudson is easily the richest version of this vineyard that we have ever produced. This tastes like a blend of a Corton-Charlemagne and a Napa Chardonnay, with tremendous balance and precision, as well as rich cream, honeysuckle and lemon oil. If I were to drink one of the 2013 Chardonnays upon release, this would be the wine I would choose. The 2013 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard reveals more stony minerality than the 2012. Crisp honeysuckle, tangerine and caramelized citrus notes intermixed with a hint of apple skins are found in this elegant, medium to full-bodied 2013 along with zesty acids and super purity. Drink now-2018."

2013 Durell Vineyard | Robert M. Parker, Jr. Score: 91-93 | Drink 2014 - 2019
"As always the Durell Vineyard Chardonnay is the more gold colored of the Chardonnays and shows its California heritage in full glory. The 2013 is perhaps the biggest and richest Durell we have had since the 2007 vintage. This is very rich and silky on the palate with hazelnut, cream, brioche and a long, complex lingering finish. Though clearly drinkable now this wine should easily hold and improve over the next five years. The 2013 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard exhibits a Chablis-like character along with notes of wet rocks, sweet white corn, white peaches and honeysuckle. Medium to full-bodied and well-delineated, it should drink well for 3-5 years."

The Offer

All TOR Chardonnays in this offer retail for $60 per bottle. Grab a case and get a 10% discount. Mixing and matching ok.

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