2017 The Hilt Chardonnay Collection Case (Old Guard, Vanguard, Estate)
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Tasting notes
Light gold-colored, the 2017 Chardonnay Estate offers a rocking bouquet of spiced apple, white peach, white flowers, and toasted bread. This carries to a medium-bodied, fleshy, beautifully balanced effort that's already drinking brilliantly. The big news with these The Hilt releases is the addition of two new single vineyard Pinot Noirs, Radian and Bentrock. As usual, winemaker Matt Dees has turned out a brilliant lineup of wines in both 2017 and 2018.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Chardonnay Estate is soft, open-knit and also quite understated. Lemon confit, almond and tangerine notes all develop in a pretty, gracious Chardonnay that will drink well right out of the gate. This is a decidedly quiet, subdued Chardonnay from The Hilt. Vineyard sites are 54% Bentrock, 28% Sanford & Benedict and 18% Radian.
The 2017 Chardonnay Estate, aged 11 months in 32% new French oak, features chamomile, acacia, toast, roasted almonds and crushed stone with peach, Golden Delicious apple and lemon peel scents. It's light to medium-bodied with toasty fruits, juicy acidity and a long, lively finish. 1,417 cases produced.
About the producer
The Hilt is the Santa Rita Hills project owned by sports and property mogul billionaire Stan Kroenke, who also owns Screaming Eagle in Napa Valley and the Jonata estate in the California’s Ballard Canyon AVA.