2016 TOR Chardonnay Torchiana Beresini Vineyard Hyde Clone
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Wente clone planted with cuttings from his friend Larry Hyde by Steve Beresini in 1988 in Carneros. Barrel fermented in small French cooperage, mainly three-year-old dry-aged barrels and mainly Saury and François Frères. Fermentations begin with native yeast for primary and secondary. Bottled unfined, unfiltered. There's a certain California richness about this, even though there's much, much more finesse than many a Napa Chardonnay. So although the team claim it's burgundian, I'd say it's not burgundian but it's very superior California Chardonnay. Lightly textured on the end. Good acidity. Just a tiny bit of heat on the end. (JR)
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Jancis Robinson MW
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This wine comes from a single three-acre Chardonnay vineyard introduced to Tor Kenward by Larry Hyde in 2008. It belonged to one of Larry Hyde’s oldest friends in the Napa Valley, Steve Beresini, and was planted three decades ago with cuttings Larry gave Steve. This is now referred to as “Hyde Selection Wente Clone.” Today it produces a minuscule crop, usually between one and two tons per acre, with clusters half the normal size. Primary coopers are Saury and three-year dry aged Francois Frères. The 2016 Chardonnay Beresini Vineyard Cuvee Torchiana has a total rock-star nose of tropical fruits, lemon pie, key lime, wet pebbles, lanolin, beeswax and orange blossom. The medium to full-bodied palate is lively, layered, fresh and youthfully subdued, finishing long. This needs time! 375 cases produced.
The 2016 Chardonnay Cuvee Torchiana Beresini Vineyard is another super-expressive wine from Tor. Rich, sumptuous and exquisitely layered, but with the restraint that runs through all the Chardonnays, the Cuvee Torchiana is terrific. Lemon oil, tangerine, spice and a hint of new French oak all meld together in a striking, nuanced Chardonnay endowed with tons of character. The Cuvee Torchiana is a wine of rare distinction and pedigree.