The Salus Chardonnay is one of those benchmark California Chardonnays for me, and shows that even a Rutherford Chardonnay that is treated with all French oak (50% new, 50% 1-3 year old) barrels, can still pack so much nuanced flavor that all that oak acts to balance and enhance, rather than mask. The first time I had one of these Chardonnays, years ago, I thought it was one of the most Chassagne-Montrachet-like California whites I had ever had, and it is consistently so.
2005 Staglin Family Vineyard Salus Estate Chardonnay
Lemon cream and sweet oak mix with earthy wild mushroom, melon and straw. Weighty and muscular, the oak soon succumbs to the beautiful fruit it surrounds. Very highly recommended.
Brandon,
I first tasted it at the Family Winemaker event in 2004 or 5 and was impressed then. After the scores of mediocre Cal Chard that I come across, it really rises to the top of the class, especially for those who enjoy the Burgundian touch in our whites.
Posted by: The Corkdork | March 03, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Wow, thanks for writing such a nice post about our Salus Chardonnay. I love that wine too; to me it tastes like Fall in a bottle.
Posted by: Brandon Staglin | March 03, 2008 at 11:20 AM
That sounds like a great wine.
Posted by: SteveP | February 05, 2008 at 01:26 PM