2017 Hyde de Villaine Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Very small crop and some heat spikes in the second week of September. According to Guillaume Boudet, ‘This forced us to pick earlier than usual and it showed this could work. We learned a lot from challenging vintages.’ Deep gold. Peachy nose. Then a racy palate with real drive. Very appealing to a European palate. Long and composed. Lovely! Savoury finish. (JR)
Critic scores
James Suckling
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Chardonnay opens with pure notes of poached pears, white peach, quince and apple pie plus notions of citrus blossoms, smoke, toast and honeyed hints in the undercurrent—what a superb perfume! The palate is still youthfully wound, offering energetic citrus and mineral-laced fruits, tangy, vibrant and bright and finishing very long and nuanced.
Wonderful, juicy white with cooked pineapple, praline and biscuit. Some apricots. Full-bodied, tangy and edgy with lots of energetic fruit. Focused and lively. Minerality is the word. Drink or hold.
The 2017 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is a blend of Calera and Wente clones, which, along with the decision to pick early, yields a Chardonnay with distinctly salty, saline notes that give the wine energy, tension and persistence. Orchard fruit, white flowers, mint and white pepper add striking aromatic top notes. The 2017 is quiet understated, but it is also just sublime. The 2017 spent 12 months in oak (15% new) and about four months in tank prior to bottling. It is pure class.