2012 Charles Smith Wines Chardonnay Sixto Roza Hills
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Chardonnay Roza Hills Vineyard comes from a site in the Rattlesnake Hills region. Aged in 27% new French oak (the highest of the four Chardonnays), it's a medium-bodied, elegant, seamless white that has classic notes of ripe apple, lemon curd and toasted spice. Fresh and lively, yet also layered, rich and with excellent mid-palate depth, it's my favorite of the 2012s and one of the top examples of the variety coming out of Washington State. Hats off to the team here and all four of these latest releases are drop-dead gorgeous.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
(35% new oak): Pale yellow-gold. Rich aromas of stone fruits, brown spices and smoky lees. Plump, sweet and fine-grained; silky and mouthfilling. Conveys an impression of lower acidity than the Moxee and Frenchman Hills examples and yet the minerality from these chalky soils accentuates the wine’s acidity on the back end, giving grip to the long, slowly building finish. This fruit comes from a warmer site yet was picked later than the others in 2012, noted Leighton. The most New World in style of these superb Chardonnays. Certainly an exciting new venture to follow.