Loring Chardonnay "Durell Vineyard" 2013
(Sonoma Coast, California)

About This Wine:

Wow - two great vintages in a row. Right on the heels of 2012, we get another stunning vintage in 2013. I guess Mother Nature was feeling a bit guilty after kicking our butts in 2011. 2013 was another year of perfect weather and solid yields. So... not only will we have some super tasty wine from 2013, but we'll also be able to keep our futures pricing the same as the past few years :) And that's double good news for everyone!

What are the 2013s like? I'd say similar to 2012 but with a notch more depth and intensity. Maybe a cross between 2009 and 2012 - which is a pretty nice place to be! Almost all the barrels in the winery could probably qualify to be in the single vineyard wines, so the AVA Blends should be extra special this time. We'll be mostly looking for power versus softness/prettiness when we make our barrel selections for the single vineyard and AVA wines, respectively.

Ratings & Reviews

Vinous (2012 vintage):
"Bright yellow-gold. Aromas of melon, honey and poached pear, with a touch of smoky minerals adding vibrancy. Smooth and expansive but light on its feet, offering juicy pit and orchard fruit flavors and a refreshingly bitter note of quinine. Shows a subtle spicy quality and good focus on the sappy, persistent finish, lifted by smoky minerality." -- Stephen Tanzer (May 2014)

91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2010 vintage):
"The 2010 Chardonnay Durrell Vineyard is a big, rich, intense wine loaded with butterscotch, honeysuckle, spice and ripe tropical fruit. This barrel fermented Chardonnay has great textural elegance and finesse. It will appeal most to readers who like larger-scaled, rich Chardonnays."  Antonio Galloni (Aug 2012)