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: 2017 Eric Kent "Luke's Grove" Russian River Valley Chardonnay

2017 Eric Kent "Luke's Grove" Russian River Valley Chardonnay

SKU #1458200 91 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Fresh, with floral components to the vibrant flavors of fresh-cut apple, white cherry and ripe pear. The focused finish offers plenty of butter accents and spicy richness. (KM) Inner quote mark (10/2019)

Connoisseurs Guide

Outer quote mark A bit of vanilla, a touch of caramel and a suggestion of sweet lemons attend a full measure of ripe apples in the moderately intense, solidly varietal nose of this one, and, while each of these elements come through clearly again in its flavors, the wine proves to be a bit richer, riper and fuller than expected in the mouth with enough fruity extract to buffer the slight coarseness and heat that come up at the finish. That said, we would advise that it be poured in tandem with rich, fairly flavorful foods and, if patience permits, another year or two in the bottle should be of further benefit. Inner quote mark (8/2020)

K&L Notes

Kent Humphrey created the Eric Kent winery as a celebration of art and craft. He proudly partners with local Sonoma artists to feature their work in a sort of wine label gallery. For Kent’s part, after pursuing a career in academia followed by a stint in advertising, he found a home in the wine cellar, and began working with vineyards he loves throughout Sonoma County to produce incredibly balanced, expressive wines. This Chardonnay is all Stiling Vineyard fruit, owned and farmed by the famed Dehlinger family. Kent goes for a middle-of-the-road style, using some new French oak and some large-format, older barrels with frequent lees stirring to create a great mid-palate texture. The wine is at once bright and rich. It has beautiful clean aromas of yellow pear and Honeycrisp apple, and a palate that has beautiful creamy depth and a mélange of orchard fruits and lemon curd. The finish is surprisingly crisp and dry, making for a beautifully balanced whole.

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2017 Eric Kent "Luke's Grove" Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Price: $29.95

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WS: 91

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Additional Information:

Varietal:

Chardonnay

- It's hard to believe that up until about 30 years ago, this extremely popular varietal hid behind the veil of geographical names like Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet. Now grown all over the world and bottled by its varietal name, Chardonnay has achieved a level of branding unlike any other wine. Surprisingly, though, what you get when you buy Chardonnay can differ greatly from country to country and even within one country, depending on the climate where it's grown and how it is vinified and aged. From fresh, crisp and minerally with apple and lemon notes to rich and buttery with tropical fruit overtones, Chardonnay runs the gamut. In France's Burgundy, Chardonnay is the source of the prized wines of Chablis, Corton-Charlemagne, Mâcon, Meursault and Montrachet. It also the foundation of exceptional Champagne, where it is blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier or vinified on its own into Blanc de Blancs. It is also extremely popular in California, and is gaining popularity in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and South Africa.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Alexander Valley/Russian River

- Among Sonoma County's northernmost appellations, the Alexander Valley AVA acts as a gateway to neighboring Napa to the east and Mendocino to the north. It is a sprawling appellation, with pockets of distinct microclimates and soils, and as such, is home to a variety of wine grapes and styles. Nearly everything grows in the Alexander Valley, though Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are the most widely planted grapes. The Russian River Valley lies to the south of Alexander Valley, and is marked by much cooler temperatures and frequently heavy fog. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown here are some of the state's finest and most sought-after. Aromatic whites like Gewürztraminer and Riesling can also be successful, and sparkling wine production has a long history in the area.

Alcohol Content (%):

14.6