From the bullseye block planted in the late 1980s, Old Wente Clone Chardonnay is fleshy and ripe with a robust richness of lemon pastry creme and ripe stone fruit flesh. The Durrell Vineyard sees about 30% new French oak, using a variety of sizes. There is a natural richness, per winemaker Rob Fischer, but it's really about picking early and getting it off the vine for him so that you can retain the freshness of the fruit. (CP)

The 2023 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard is a powerful, dense wine. Broad shoulders frame apricot, sage, mint, dried flowers and light honey overtones. This deep, phenolic Chardonnay has a lot to offer. Stylistically, it is quite different from the other Chardonnays in the range, as there is more power and overall textural breadth vis-à-vis the other wines. (AG)