The 2009 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard offers up notes of lemon blossom, crushed rocks, orange marmalade, white currants and quince. This deep, full-bodied, rich wine with laser-like precision is more delicate and ethereal than the blockbuster 2008.
96 points Wine Spectator
Insider: "A rich yet subtle style that serves up bold fig, honeydew, apricot and savory flavors that are full-bodied and tapered, at points both silky and minerally, ending with a fabulous burst of fruit. Drink now through 2018." (10/11)
94-96 points Robert Parker
"The 2009 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard offers up notes of lemon blossom, crushed rocks, orange marmalade, white currants and quince. This deep, full-bodied, rich wine with laser-like precision is more delicate and ethereal than the blockbuster 2008. Mark Aubert’s brilliant Chardonnays continue to place this winery in California’s top Chardonnay hierarchy, sharing the same rarified air as Marcassin, Kongsgaard, Peter Michael, Luc Morlet, Kistler, Hartford Court and DuMol. These cool climate, usually hillside sites on the Sonoma Coast are cropped low, the wines are fermented in new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration." (02/11)
