I can’t say that I’m a HUGE Chardonnay fan. But once I find one that I like, I end up drinking more than I wanted to. I love a balanced Chardonnay, and that is exactly what Varner Home Block is… Balanced.
Although it is a rich, full bodied white, it is very Burgundian in style. This wine has a lovely balance of cream and butter and minerality. It is bright, fresh, and elegant. The Varner Home Block is smooth, and just down right delicious. I love the beautiful fruit that it possesses, and then is finished with this layer of creamy butter. This is a winner in my book!
“Along with Mt. Eden, these are my favorite Chardonnays from the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation. Following a succession of remarkable wines over recent vintages, the 2008s are a superb success, combining the great complexity one finds in the finest white Burgundies with the ripe, exuberant, showy fruit of California. All possess wonderful minerality and acidity with only subtle differences between the different blocks. All are barrel-fermented with indigenous yeast from the vineyard, are put through full malolactic fermentation, and are aged 8 months in barrel.
From 28-year old ungrafted vines, the 2008 Chardonnay Home Block is treated essentially the same way as the other wines. It exhibits attractive honeyed nectarine and orange blossom aromas intermixed with citrus, pear, and buttery characteristics. With wonderful minerality, purity, and delineation, this full-bodied, powerful, long, rich Chardonnay should age for a decade.” Wine Advocate 95 points
