2015 Hartford Court Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard
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Another huge, yet elegant Chardonnay, the 2015 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard boasts a deeper gold color to go with a powerful, deep bouquet of buttered citrus, tangerine, baking spice, and awesome salty minerality. With full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless, incredibly pure and precise texture, and a huge finish, this is another incredible Chardonnay from this team. The Seascape Vineyard is located on a panoramic ridge-top west of the town of Occidental facing Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and this 2015 was barrel fermented and aged 16 months in 42% new French oak. Don Hartford and winemaker Jeff Stewart have produced a sensational lineup of wines in 2015 (and I suspect 2016 as well). This is a smaller yielding year, and while quantities are tiny, the wines are concentrated, rich, and flamboyant while also staying elegant and seamless. These are world-class Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that readers need to seek out!
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is deep, viscous and exotic. Tropical fruit, vanillin and yellow orchard fruit are all pushed forward in this racy, flamboyant wine. A touch of botrytis comes through in the wine's oiliness and overall flavor profile. The Seascape is the most exotic of the Chardonnays in the Hartford Court range.
Seascape Vineyard is located on a panoramic ridge-top west of the town of Occidental facing Bodega Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and was planted in the 1980s to Spring Mountain Chardonnay clonal selection. It receives native yeast fermentation and is barrel fermented in French oak, 42% new, where it ages for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard offers intense grapefruit, orange blossom and lemon peel with hints of cedar and buttered toast. The full-bodied palate is brimming with lemon tart, brine and toasty flavors with a great acid backbone cutting through the concentrated creaminess, finishing with wonderful freshness. 221 cases were made.
The 2015 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is a powerful and intense wine that captures a striking middle ground between oily richness and the more reserved style of this cooler part of the appellation. Deep in color and flavor, but not at all heavy, the 2015 exudes personality. Orange peel, butter, wild flowers and chamomile leave a lasting impression.