2011 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Alder Springs Vineyard, USA, California,

Alesia is produced by Rhys with their non-estate fruit. Alder Springs is one of the idiosyncratic vineyards in California. North of Sonoma and right on the coast, the vineyard can be drastically different from year to year and they grow a host of different varietals. Truthfully, I wondered if this fruit got ripe enough in 2011, but now worries. Not a fruity wine, but enough for sure. This wine is not quite as good as the Rhys Chards, but it costs half the price too. Light golden in color. The nose has nice minerality along with lemons and some spice. On the palate, nice lemony notes with good acidity. Some oak showing in the form of spice. Good finish. Food friendly.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2011

Top Ten California Chardonnays - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

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2016 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$45.00USD

From a 375ml bottle. Rhys makes some of the best Chards in California, but this is from purchased fruit and so carries the Alesia name. It does seem like the oak treatment is different as well. This is a sold Chardonnay but not nearly in the class of the Rhys Chards. Light gold/green in color. The nose is nice with minerals, spice, slight lemons and slight lumber. On the palate, the minerals and lumber carry thru. Some lemon. Lean in body with good acidity. This will work with a lots of foods.

2016 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$40.00USD

The Alesia wines from Rhys are made with purchased fruit. It is similar to the Rhys Chards but for my tastes, not quite at that level. Light gold/green in color. The nose is nice with lemons, vanilla cream and spice. On the palate, this is medium bodied. Nice acidic cut. The lemon and vanilla carry thru. Good clean finish. This drinks well on its own but will work well with sea food or lighter dishes. Drink over the next ten years.

Best Napa Chardonnay (For the Money)

IntoWine.com asked a panel of wine experts for their recommendation for the best Napa Chardonnay (for the money): California Chardonnay has entered a new golden era, and there are terrific, cooler climate examples available from all over the State. These great new Chards tend to be balanced, with minerality and strong acidity, as well as less obtrusive new oak than was the trademark of California Chardonnay even five years ago. Napa does not have a particularly cool climate, so the wines from this region tend to have more ripe, tropical fruit characteristics, and more richness, as well as more of a creamy mouth feel, thanks in large part to the new oak typically used for fermentation and aging. Nonetheless, for those who like the rich, tropical fruit style of Chardonnay, there are some great examples from Napa that are relative values. My top pick for the money is the Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Napa Valley Chardonnay, with the current release going for a relatively reasonable average of $35. Here I get more lemon and lemon cream than super-ripe tropical fruit, but with solid weight and creamy texture. Also quite good but considerably pricier, at about $50, is the Hestan Vineyards Chardonnay, made by sought after Napa winemaking consultant Mark Herold. - Richard Jennings, IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder RJonWine.com

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2016 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

From Magnum. Very nice showing. Light golden with green hues. The nose is nice with slight lemon curd, vanilla, a bit of lemon rind and smoke. Full bodied. This is crisp and clean. On the palate, plenty of depth The lemon and lemon rind come thru with some underlying char. The oak is there but deftly used. Great balance. Long finish. This worked well with assorted cheeses, potato chips, and even a salad. A 750ML will be more advanced but it seems like it easily has another eight to ten years.

2011 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Alder Springs Vineyard, USA, California,

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Best Napa Chardonnay (For the Money)

2016 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains, USA, California, Wine Review