2006 Stratton Lummis Artists' Series Carneros Chardonnay
This is how Chardonnay should be made. The 2006 Carneros Chardonnay from Stratton Lummis is an amazing bottle that really lets the true flavors of the grape come through without the distracting oakiness that overpowers many other wines from the variety.
You can tell right on the nose that the pear, apple and fruit flavors are vibrant and plentiful. A nice complexity and balance throughout. Very satisfying finish, leaving a nice aftertaste, a little lemony, just begging you to try more.
On top of all of this, this wine is an amazing value at $20-$25. There are a lot of nice bottles of Chardonnay in that price range, but few that taste like this. And for someone like me who has complained time and time again about the oakiness of most Chardonnays, this is a real treat and a stellar example of what this variety can really offer. Seek this one out.
BlogRoom.com Rating: 15 out of 20
BlogRoom.com *Silver Rated*
Interesting fact about this winery. They source cabernet sauvignon grapes from the same vineyards that Caymus Special Select is sourced from. So, I figure they are getting their chard grapes from somewhere close to the floor of the Napa Valley, probably Oak Knoll, or Stags Leap.
If you can find the 2003 or 2004 cab, buy one to drink and one to cellar. I tasted the 2005 (current release) the other day, and it is showing well, but needs to lay down for a couple years before it will really be there. I havent tried the chard, but if I come across it, I will definately pick it up. In my opinion, one of the better winerys' that nobody knows about.
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Couldn't agree with this review more. Had the pleasure of learning about this wine in May at a wine tasting event in Kiawah, SC. Remembered the boat on the label and was happy to find it stocked regularly at TOTAL WINE! It is worth stocking up on this one there.
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