Wine Spectator 92 and Value Wine of the Week:
Presents pear drop, Fuji apple, ripe Bartlett pear and lemon blossom details that are elegant and restrained, but they weave in and out on a light, fresh frame that's quite impressive. Gains a savory element, thanks to a touch of toasted sesame seed.
This actually rates even higher than the last four vintages of the $45 Estate Chardonnay from Chalk Hill.
It’s also the top Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay bottling ever on CellarTracker.
Interestingly, this comes from one of the very first Sonoma Coast vineyards planted to Chardonnay, in 1964. Here’s a very perceptive review from there:
This is part of the growing Foley Empire, and comes from a place that was one of the first to see Chardonnay in Sonoma (planted in 1964 by Rodney Strong). I have long admired this wine not only for its consistent quality, but also for its continued dedication to quality wine. Yellow, almost golden, in the glass, with lemon curd, oak, and white pepper. The palate has fruit (mostly lemon), but the story is more about the weight, the heft, and yes, the oak. Far from an oak monster, but this is closer to the old "Cali Chard" style than the newer "unoaked" trend.
You simply won’t find a better or more “serious” Sonoma Coast Chardonnay under $25. The Wine Spectator is right about this one.
