2011 Dehlinger Chardonnay Estate
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Green-tinged gold. Expansive aromas of melon, nectarine and Meyer lemon, with mineral and iodine qualities adding lift and focus. Round and supple in texture but energetic as well, offering juicy honeydew and pit fruit flavors plus a touch of candied fig. Closes on a spicy note, with an impression of dusty minerality and very good cling.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Dehlinger's 2011 Chardonnay Estate is fabulous. Honeysuckle, nectarine, white flowers and mint flesh out in an inviting wine loaded with class and personality. This is a surprisingly oily, textured Chardonnay from one of Sonoma's reference-point wineries. The presence of botrytis has given the 2011 gorgeous viscosity and pure elegance. This is a real head-turner from Tom and Eva Dehlinger. And the price? Incredibly reasonable for a wine of this level.
The 2011 Chardonnay Estate reveals that luscious forwardness that the best wines possess, but not quite the depth of its slightly older sibling. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. The ever reliable Tom Dehlinger continues to turn out realistically priced wines of exceptionally high quality. Their newest offerings, the Altamont Pinot Noir and Syrah, come from a hilltop vineyards planted in gravelly red soils previously called “Estate.” The Frei Road Syrah emanates from a 2.5-acre block of what was the Martinelli-owned Zio Tony Ranch. Dehlinger has never been one to utilize a tremendous amount of new oak for their Chardonnay program, and both the 2010 and 2011 Estate Chardonnays reflect that. Tel. (707) 823-2378