92pts Tasting Panel
A bright wash of caramel apple and lemon verbena ushers in vivid aromatics and flavors. The wine is rich but impeccably balanced, with a wave of toasted marshmallow leading to powdered minerality on the finish.
90pts Wilfred Wong
The 2018 Rodney Strong Vineyards Chalk Hill Chardonnay shows an excellent firmness on the palate. This wine offers attractive aromas and flavors of ripe apple and oak. Enjoy it with cast iron-fried, bone-in chicken thighs with a mushroom wine reduction sauce. (Tasted: December 14, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
Winemaker Notes
Rodney Strong 2018 Chalk Hill Chardonnay boasts toasty vanilla and spice due to time spent in seasoned French oak barrels during fermentation. During the 11 months of barrel aging, the winery regularly stirred the lees in barrel, which imparts an elegant fullness and creamy texture on the palate. In the glass, the wine is both creamy and crisp, with flavors of golden pear, vanilla, Meyer lemon, and a hint of minerality on the long finish. Enjoy with soft cheeses, fresh crab, or roasted pork loin.