This is one of the most exciting Chards we’ve tasted this year. The Durell vineyard is so distinctive, it would certainly be ranked as a Premier Cru if California had such designations. The bouquet is bursting with aromas of tropical fruit, grilled pineapple, and white peach. The palate is rich and opulent, with full layers of lemon cream, green apple, butterscotch, and toasted pastry. Durrell’s classic minerality balances the fruit, increasing the level of complexity. Superb now, this wine will benefit with a few years in the cellar and will last for another 8-10 years. 95+ points.

Colette Winery

Les Grands Vins de Colette is a new white wine venture founded by Claire-Marie and Wendell Laidley, who also produce red wines from Napa Valley under the Realm Cellars label. This label is named after their Vietnamese matriarch (Claire-Marie’s grandmother) who was so inspired by the French author, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, that she took her name to match her unique passion for life. Their goal is to source Chardonnay from some of the most distinctive Sonoma County vineyards and hand craft wines that convey the unique attributes of those sites with a stylistic emphasis toward Burgundian winemaking practices. Winemaker Rebecca George brings an immense array of experiences including positions at Marcassin, Schramsberg, Williams Selyem and Domaine Meo-Camuzet in the Vosne-Romanee region of Burgundy.