Vineyard Notes | The 2010 Overlook harvested started on September 28th, when Bald Mountain, a dry farmed Chardonnay vineyard perched above Sonoma Valley at 1,700 feet in the Mayacama Range became ripe. This was a late year due to a very cool and mild summer. The entire 2010 harvest took a little over three weeks, rather than the six weeks that we are used to. The majority of the Chardonnay was harvested in the second week of October and concluded on the 21st of October when we harvested the Rodger’s Creek Vineyard, a very cool and exposed vineyard on the Sonoma Coast.

Winemaker Notes | Each lot is lightly whole cluster pressed, allowed to settle for a day and placed into 100% French oak barrels where it spontaneously ferments without the addition of cultured yeast. The barrels are stirred twice a month to round out the wine and build texture.

Tasting Notes | On the nose, the wine has notes of brioche, preserved lemon, vanilla, and white peach. This unfiltered medium weight Chardonnay features flavors of citrus, sweet oat straw, grilled nectarine, and white chocolate followed by nutmeg spice and a hint of oak toast.

Suggested Food Pairing | This well-structured wine will pair well with seafood entrees, roasted poultry dishes and even spicy Asian cuisine.

Press

March 4th, 2011

Robert Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate

POINTS

Completely accessed from Sonoma fruit , the 2009 Overlook Chardonnay exhibits a light green/gold color as well as notes of nectarines, white peaches and hints of honey as well as tropical fruits. Medium to full-bodied, pure and fresh with the wood pushed to the background, this dry, classy white should be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years.

November 1st, 2010

Sunset Magazine

Sunset Magazine's Western Wine Award: GOOD VALUE WHITE WINE

"Toasty apple and bright melon come together with unusual balance in a ripe, concentrated Chardonnay."

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Wine Spectator, March 2009

POINTS

Green apple, floral, lime and citrus blossom scents give this full-bodied chardonnay a distinctive edge. Crisp and flinty, ending with wet stone. Drink now through 2012. - J.L.

May 1st, 2008

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008

POINTS

2006 Overlook Chardonnay Bright gold. Spicy melon, peach and orange aromas are complicated by smoked meat and floral honey. Leesy melon and pit fruit flavors are energized by zesty minerality, which adds focus and lift. This understated chardonnay offers a lightly sweet touch and finishes with excellent cut and persistence.

May 1st, 2008

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, May 2008

POINTS

2006 Overlook Chardonnay Flashy oak and full-throttle winemaking are met with plenty of juicy, ripe-apple fruit first in the outgoing aromas and then again in the lush flavors of this rich and wide-open effort. Big, but not at all heavy, and firmed up as it goes by nicely tailored acidity, the wine is at once both rich and lively, and it promises to get even better with a year or two of age.

Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue #174

POINTS

One of California’s finest as well as realistically priced Chardonnays is Landmark’s Overlook. The 2006 exhibits classic tropical fruit, orange blossom, and citrus oil aromas along with a subtle whiff of oak in its fragrant, pure bouquet. Excellent acidity, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and a stunningly long finish result in a beautiful Chardonnay to enjoy over the next several years.