Name: Williams Selyem Chardonnay Drake Estate Vineyard 2023 750ml
Brand: Williams Selyem
SKU: 1008423
Price: 114.84 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 93.3 (3 reviews)

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Winery

Williams Selyem

Shop all from Williams Selyem

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

Country

United States

Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.

Region

California

California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.

Appellation

Sonoma Valley

California's beautiful and remarkably fertile Sonoma Valley has grown over the decades to become one of the United States' most respected and profitable wine regions, with wineries within the region benefiting from the superb Californian sunshine, low rainfall and wonderfully rich soils. Because of this vital combination of excellent conditions, the region is able to grow a wide range of grape varietals for use in the production of an impressive array of wines, with many different red and white wine grapes flourishing each year and producing excellent and characterful results. The soils have been enriched by volcanic activity, and the presence of geothermal springs, which make this region a unique one, and very much the beating heart of California's ever growing wine industry.

JS 95pts

James Suckling

A juicy, full-bodied wine with aromas of pears, white peaches, resinous herbs, spices and Meyer lemons. The palate shows cool salinity, a plush, round mouthfeel and pleasing weight, with phenolic tension and exotic spices at the end. Drink or hold.

WA 93pts

Wine Advocate

The 2023 Chardonnay Drake Estate Vineyard was matured for 13 months in 34% new French oak. It has inviting aromas of peach, apricot, honey, roasted almonds and flint. Silky in texture, the medium-bodied palate features open, honey-nut flavors structured by bright acidity, and it has a long, elegant finish. 535 cases were made.

WS 92pts

Wine Spectator

Vibrant and expressive, with ripe pear, tangy apple and lemon curd flavors that are precise and fresh. Details of lemon confit and crunchy sea salt join notes of green tea, lemon verbena and freshly grated ginger that linger on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now. 535 cases made.

Winery Notes

On the nose, yellow apple and Meyer lemon notes combine with hints of shiso and tarragon. The Drake Estate Vineyard is situated next to a riverbank, and the aromas of the nearby woods influences the aromas and flavors of the wine, creating something with character and intrigue. Layered and fat on the palate, the newer plantings of old-Wente and Calera Chardonnay clones contribute to the excellent structure and minerality in this cool climate beauty.