HdV Wines

The Hyde Vineyard that produced the fruit for this wine is mostly dry-farmed, and it mostly goes to some of the best winemakers in Northern California. A few years ago Larry Hyde and his family partnered with cousin (by marriage) Aubert de Villaine to create a family label and make their own statement with the vineyard.

One of the first decisions they made was to treat the fruit in the winery with the same total respect and care they give it in the vineyard. For this Chardonnay, for example, the whole clusters were pressed very slowly into stainless steel to preserve as much fruit and mineral character as possible. Then the wine moved into wood, mostly neutral, and aged on the lees for 11 months. Racking was minimal, and there was no filtration or fining.

In other words, you taste the vines, the earth where they grow, and the intention of the people who made the wine. If that’s not terroir in a glass, nothing is. The aromas do reveal a touch of new French oak, but mostly you sense the aplomb and assurance of the makers, along with depths of fruit, spice and wet grass on a summer morning. In tasting, you get a big, serious mouthful that immaculately melds red apple flavors, Bosc pears, and medium toast – if you even want to bother picking the flavors apart. The wine opens up considerably toward the finish, yet remains exceptionally smooth for a wine this big and packed with flavor. To really enjoy it, put it away for at least another three years.

Note: This wine was also selected by our panel of winemakers as a Carneros “Appellation Signature” wine in the Appellation Discovery Tasting conducted in January/06.

Reviewed August 6, 2006 by Thom Elkjer.

Other Awards & Accolades

AppellationAmerica - "Appellation Signature" selection

This wine exhibits less citrus character and more pear and peach with a goodly dose of wood. But it is balanced with a long finish. There are also creamy, herbal-grassy notes. This wine which was neither filtered nor fined shows some hotness from its 14.5 percent alcohol.