On my visit today with our friends the KoH and QoH, we stopped in at Darioush to do some barrel tasting. Before we got to the barrels, we tried their Chardonnay.

I am not a huge fan of CA Chardonnay, but I have to tell you this is the most UN-California Chardonnay I have ever tried. Huge floral nose with lots of peach and citrus aromas. Beautiful, slightly Viognier-ish finish (I'll explain) with tons of fruit and honeysuckle.

When we all tasted this, we looked at each other and said, "This has to be blended with something else. This can't be 100% Chardonnay." But it is 100% Chardonnay. The fruit is grown in the same vineyard where the Viognier is grown and therefore, according to winemaker Steve Devitt, there is some natural "blending" that occurs due to the proximity of the fruit.

BN Points - 90

When you rate a wine does authentic varietal character play a role in your analysis or is the rating a representation of how much you enjoyed the wine regardless of how it tasted vis a vis what the varietal typically should taste like?

Jones -

That may very well be the question of the month (and my nomination for the post of the week/month).

I can't speak to this wine in particular - but I can speak to the point.

For me, I simply have not tasted enough wine to be able to judge one 100% chardonnay versus another 100% chardonnay on 'strength of varietal character.' I'm afraid I still use my ratings mostly on how much pleasure the wine gives me (in addition to the usual nose, color, complexity, etc.).

Jones, perhaps make that it's own topic. I think that'd be a great discussion.

For me, the rating is a representation of how much I enjoyed the wine regardless of how it tasted. I am still in the process of learning what the different varietals taste like on my palette. My wife's palette is somewhat more sensitve than mine and she is quie good at determining the details of a varietal.

And I agree this would make a great topic!

I'm not a huge fan of most CA chardonnays either. I'm probably one of the biggest critics of the harsh woody style that reminds me of listerine. Seems to me that earlier Darioush chardonnays were more "typical" that this one. IMO, this is a good thing. I don't mind if more wineries move toward this style.

I am moving steadily away from buying Chardonnay and picking up Viognier more and more. It's all a matter of taste.