Alison Buchanan: Pretty, lustrous green-gold. An attractive, rather subtle nose, offering pure stone fruit and attractive mineral focus. The palate is sweet and ripe with no excesses. There is acidity, but it is well integrated and fits the bill so that, overall, there is decent balance. 14
Stephen Brook: Dumb nose. Fresh, crisp, fairly simple, but it’s clean and brisk, with attractive apple and apricot fruit. There’s no complexity here, but also no sense that the winemaking is striving to impress. The acidity is bright and carries through on to the finish. Very well made and enjoyable. 16.5
Oz Clarke: Curious, rather syrupy and phenolic, and a strange mix of fat yet neutral stewed fruit and pepper. It’s more like an overripe Trebbiano than Sonoma Chardonnay—low-yield Trebbiano di Soave!—so it’s a fair drink, but its flavor is of maxed-out neutrality rather than inherent personality. 12.5
Details
Wine expert | Stephen Brook Alison Buchanan Oz Clarke |
Tastings year | 2007 |
Region | California |
Appellation | AVA |
Hanzell Vineyards

