Rich nose, cherries, clove. Juicy and supple, but with a taut and ample length.

Hartford's been making this vineyard-designate since the winery's first vintage and has (justifiably, I think) gotten a fair amount of praise for the wine. The site is cold-they get frost from August now and then-with a lot of older vines, and the wine it produced in '05 has lifted boysenberry aromas with fruit that follows suit; the fine acidity keeps it all together, as herb notes rise in the finish. Delicious Pinot.

Herbal and floral aromas with hints of violet, toasted oak, and dark berries. Still young and frisky, needs to mature to justify its lofty price. Concentrated fruit and firm tannins hold promise of lush complexity to come, as well as a longer finish.

Slightly medicinal nose with black currant and cola notes; subdued cherry, berry and fig flavors with a touch of greenness. Low production.

Rich, quite full Pinot Noir, good attack. Good fruit, but more on attack than in complexity. Big solid wine. Up to 5 years.

Ripe, open, concentrated and compact, the perfumed aromas of this full-bodied wine smell of blackberry jam and lots of vanillin oakiness, and the dense, fleshy flavors are equally unabashed…

Stressing ripeness in its somewhat outgoing aromas of jammy, almost syrupy, blackberry and spicy, nutmegy oak…

The sweet, young, berryish fruit aromas show both lots of immediate appeal and plenty of depth. At entry, the flavors are much like the nose with forward blackberry fruit that gives substance to the frontal impressions. Well-structured and fairly weighty on the palate….

This impressive and very forward wine is quite consistent with the winery's outstanding 1994 vintage Zinfandel release. The pretty aromas put its first rate oak on full display yet deep blackberry and chocolate tones push into prominence and without giving in to that oak. Supple on entry and showing handsome, if slightly plummy fruit, the wine is still youthfully ragged in midpalate but is firm and well-balanced and is fully capable of improving for the next two to five years.

Toasty cola and black cherry notes surface despite a hollow core. Backed by somewhat rough-edged tannins.

Elegant yet dramatic, with jammy, oaky flavors.

Like others in this tasting, the wine shows its ripeness as the first order of business, and while that trait night ordinarily put us off a bit, this wine has made a virtue of its intensity, its depth, its mix of berry concentrate and dark chocolate and its incredible richness. It will lose fruit as it ages further, yet it promises to retain richness and its inviting early texture, even as it also loses tannin.

This is a terrific, rich, ripe and very tasty Zinfandel. Its fairly intense aromas convey a clear sense of fruit extracts seasoned by sweet oak. Supple on entry and almost succulent in mid-palate, the excellent balance of the wine provides the needed structure and support for these qualities, and its flavors and aftertaste are filled with the berryish characteristics that are so distinctive to Zinfandel. This one can be enjoyed anytime within the next half decade.

A stunning wine that could pass for a top Batard-Montrachet from Burgundy. Rich and deeply flavored, but also fresh and well-defined, thanks to excellent acidity.

Deep flavors of baked apples and ripe pears.

Classic style. New oak. Fantastic weight, depth and flavour. 2-10 years.

Massive concentration and depth. Classic style. New oak but balanced. Still youthful but pronounced fruit. Fantastic weight, depth, and flavour. Long finish.

Attractive notes of apples, toast and sweet citrus fruits in the nose find parallel character in the direct, well ripened flavors of this neatly balanced, mid-sized Chardonnay. Composure, rather than unbridled richness, is the keynote here, and, if just a touch narrow at the finish, the wine will find useful service with both lighter chicken or meaty fish dishes.

Youthfully bright fruit aromas are considerably enriched by buttery tones and plenty of creamy oak in the appealing nose. Mouthcoating on the palate, the wine is smooth an well-textured. Fruit is the lead player throughout but lees and oak flavors contribute complexity and seasoning that add to the wine's overall richness and sense of depth. Well-balanced, the wine will continue to gain interest over the next few years and will enhance the enjoyment of savory chicken or veal preparations.

Elegant, crisp, lightly floral, with pear and apple flavors, great dinner wine. 3 stars, superb.

The Best Chardonnay Wines That Bordeaux Has To Offer If you are looking for Chardonnay wines in which the elements are made of tropical fruit splash, then the 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Four Hearts deems the perfect choice. A bottle of this wine opens an excellent pink grapefruit, pineapple, lemon tart, with apple notes, croissant and nutmeg elements.

We began with two chardonnay, one from the far eastern portion of the huge Sonoma Coast appellation and the other, two ridges inland from the Pacific Ocean. Both vineyards are influenced from by rock and fossils. The 2015 Stone Cote Vineyard Chardonnay comes from a block within the Durell Vineyard and its steely, mineral elements are influenced from a nearby river bed. In contrast, the estate 2015 Fog Dance Vineyard Chardonnay originates from the Green Valley of Russian River Valley appellation, near the coast. Although the flavors were a bit rounder with hints of citrus and stone fruits, the mineral finish prevailed.

We began with two chardonnay, one from the far eastern portion of the huge Sonoma Coast appellation and the other, two ridges inland from the Pacific Ocean. Both vineyards are influenced from by rock and fossils. The 2015 Stone Cote Vineyard Chardonnay comes from a block within the Durell Vineyard and its steely, mineral elements are influenced from a nearby river bed. In contrast, the estate 2015 Fog Dance Vineyard Chardonnay originates from the Green Valley of Russian River Valley appellation, near the coast. Although the flavors were a bit rounder with hints of citrus and stone fruits, the mineral finish prevailed.

Summer Wine Recommendations from C Lazy U Ranch Sommelier Elise Blann For all those California chardonnay drinkers out there, this is a great option for summertime. You get the oak and the butter you’re looking for without it being too heavy. The apple and pear notes come through just enough to create an extremely balanced chardonnay, light enough in body to stand up to the summer sun.

Try a few sparklers and chardonnays for a light touch OK, Chardonnay requesters, here’s a few for you. Hartford Court Forestville Four Hearts 2015 is ready and findable. RP wrote a 96 in 2015 and it went off the scale, jumping to $48. Time heals, my friends. The wine did a backflip to $41. It is still around now and in its perfect window at $42-$45. Straw- yellow color says, “I can cellar longer if you wish.” Redolent floral nose: orange, honeysuckle and apple blossom, plus citrus and oak aromas. Smooth, medium-full-bodied with tangerine, crème brulée, vanilla, honey, and marmalade flavors. Perfect mineral acidity supports all through a long, nutty finish. Long time since I’ve enjoyed Chardonnay like this.