The greatest California producer of Chardonnay may not be in Napa Valley, Sonoma County or even the Santa Cruz Mountains. Judging by the outstanding showing of the brand-new 2010s of Talley Vineyards, the state’s greatest producer may lie in the tiny Arroyo Grande Valley near San Luis Obispo in California’s beautiful Central Coast.
2010 was a cool growing season in California. What it means to those of us who love classically structured wines is “Woo-hoo!” We’re finally going to get some civility back into our wines. Talley Vineyards has been doing it that way all along.
Brian Talley came by The Wine Country while I was at a business seminar, but he was kind enough to leave me glasses of his latest Chardonnays. I’ve always admired the flavor and breed of his wines, formed by the estate’s cool ocean breezes and the rare California limestone soil. Cool climate and limestone works wonders for chardonnay in Burgundy, and it works well here.
The single-vineyard wines are made in relatively small quantities so we don’t expect to be able to offer them for long.
2010 Talley Vineyards Estate Chardonnay
Arroyo Grande Valley
I can’t think of a better California Chardonnay to drink with swordfish or a rich roasted chicken. It has a richa and appealing aroma of buttered toast and butterscotch. In the mouth there are bright flavors that certainly give a nod to classic white Burgundy. Medium weight, with all the attractiveness you want in Chardonnay.
$24.99 per bottle
2010 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Oliver’s
Edna Valley
Grown in the next valley northwest, the fruit from the popular Oliver’s Vineyard created a fabulous wine in 2010. With a richer aroma and a medium weight, this gorgeous Chardonnay with its restrained fruit is brilliantly balanced. You may detect some notes of fresh pears in the very firm, very impressive wine.
$29.99 per bottle
2010 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Rincon
Arroyo Grande Valley
Fuller bodied than the Oliver’s Vineyard bottling, there is a presence of oak throughout the aroma and flavor, yet it is a deft use of wood that gives the wine an enormous amount of class. To be sure, the Rincon is a full-flavored, bold Chardonnay with a hint of white flower in the aroma that adds prettiness to the wine. Very solid acidity balances the wine perfectly. Very accomplished winemaking.
$37.99 per bottle
2010 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Rosemary’s
Arroyo Grande Valley
The top-of-the-line Chardonnay for Talley vineyards is the biggest-bodied of the lineup in 2010, as it always is. With the most oak in the aroma, it is very full in the mouth—the weightiest of all Talley’s Chardonnays. Yet there is a freshness here, especially in the clean, appley, long, long finish of oak and fruit.
$42.99 per bottle
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