If you take your chardonnay seriously, then you owe it to yourself to sample the top offerings from a winery that obsesses over it. You see, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards produces nothing but chardonnay, and its Sonoma-Cutrer, Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Les Pierres 2003 is a very serious white wine. Hailing from the cool and foggy coastline recognized as the Sonoma Coast Appellation, this vintage Les Pierres delivers a wine worthy of the Grand Cru tradition with a careful, handcrafted approach to aging and fermentation. The vineyard company previously sold its greatly revered chardonnay grapes to premium wineries but when it decided to produce its own wine in 1981, it put together a “Dream Team” of winemakers. Their work is showcased in this fine yellow gold ’03 Les Pierres that displays exceptional depth and intense minerality. Signature green apple and floral lemon-lime are complemented with balanced acidity. This is one of the best chardonnays to come out of California.

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