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Wine Recommendation
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
2004 Chardonnay, Arroyo Vista Vineyard(Arroyo Seco)
Jerry Lohr farms more than 900 acres in the Arroyo Seco AVA. Most of it is planted to Chardonnay – indeed, Lohr sees Chardonnay as the signature grape of the appellation.
Most of Lohr’s Chardonnay goes into a bottling called Riverstone, but the Arroyo Vista Vineyard, planted nearly 20 years ago with Clone 5, produces fruit that’s good enough to warrant its own bottling. Arroyo Vista has the “Greenfield potatoes” that are so typical in Arroyo Seco – potato-sized cobblestones that absorb heat during the day and radiate it after dark, a la Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
The 2004 harvest was early, and the grapes were quite ripe, but they also had bracing acidity. The result is a $25 Chardonnay that combines lush ripeness with a firm core of racy acid. It displays plush flavors of pears, white stone fruit, honey and sweet oak, but it’s fresh rather than flabby or overblown. And the wine sure helps make Lohr’s case for Arroyo Seco Chardonnay.
Reviewed December 4, 2006 by Laurie Daniel.
Other reviewed wines from J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
The Wine
Winery: J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines |
The Reviewer
Laurie Daniel
Laurie Daniel, wine columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, has been reviewing wine for more than 10 years. She doesn’t use numbers, preferring to describe her recommended wines and let consumers decide for themselves. Laurie believes that bigger isn’t necessarily better; she’s partial to wines of balance, finesse and character. Her particular interests are Pinot Noir (versions that really taste like Pinot, that is) and aromatic whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. |