2012 Dumol “ISOBEL” Chardonnay $79.95

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Winery Tasting Notes:  “Great cool climate intensity, bright, sharp aromas, grapefruit, white nectarine, mixed botanicals, sea spray and minerals. Subtle floral/blossom note and faint match stick complexity. Vibrant fruit entry – green apple, citrus oil then chamomile and lemongrass. Clean river-pebble edge, livewire intensity. Mid-palate relaxes and layered honeyed texture develops. Lots of lemons and limes on the penetrating saline finish. Decant for an hour and drink between 2015 and 2021.”

Wine Advocate Review (93 pts):  “Absolutely sensational, the 2013 Chardonnay Isobel comes exclusively from the 32-year-old vines of the Charles Heintz Vineyard. Barrel-fermented and aged 13 months on its lees, then four months in tank, this wine offers up quintessential Chardonnay notes such as white peach, wet stones and hazelnut. It exhibits great acidity, a full-bodied, honeyed texture, superb purity, and a tightly coiled, crisp, zesty finish. It should be even better with another 6-12 months of cellaring and keep for a decade or more.” –Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol Level: 14.1%
Cases Produced: 1,213
Winemaker Name: Andy Smith
Maturity: Drink Now – 2021
Pairings: Great with herb roasted chicken, pork loin, salmon, lobster, crab, or halibut…A soft cow’s milk cheese or goat cheese would be excellent too!

Staff Review:  JAY JOHNSTONE –  The 2013 DuMOL “isobel” Chardonnay is absolutely fantastic!  All the chardonnay lovers out there are really going to enjoy this delicious wine.  DuMOL is a small production winery that specializes in chardonnay and pinot noir with the occasional syrah and viognier.  The winemaker Andy Smith joined DuMOL first in 1999 after being the understudy to Paul Hobbs, who is considered one of the top winemakers in the world today.  The “isobel” Chardonnay was grown in the old-vine Charles Heintz Vineyard located on the top of Occidental Ridge in the western part of Sonoma Coast.  But how does it taste you ask?  I’m not a chardonnay drinker but when I got a chance to try one this good, I was thrilled!  Great flavors of crème brulee, vanilla, and white peach really shine through.  It has the perfect amount of richness and its lingering finish make best served with heavier foods like the ones mentioned above.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I do, so Cheers!

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