90+ 2011 Dehlinger Estate Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) 6/26/14 ($40)
14.7% alc
Color: Deep bright gold. (3.0) Bouquet: Tart, spiced pear and apple. Elegant with toast and some minerality. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent fruit and acidity. Silky mouthfeel. (3.5) Flavor: Spicy oak is well integrated with the pear/apple fruit. Most intensity shown here, but a little tart at this point. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor, but slight bitterness from oak. (3.0)
Overall: An elegant, well-structured Chardonnay with attractive spiced pear and apple fruit. Has a healthy dose of spicy/toasty oak that is well integrated into the fruit. The flavors have some richness and keep you interested with alternating layers of sweetness and tartness. It's very enjoyable now, but should reward several years aging to let the layers become more distinctive. (15.5)
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