Freddy R. Troya

9.2

The Calling “Dutton Ranch” Chardonnay 2023
Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A very expressive and generously styled Chardonnay sourced from the legendary Dutton Ranch vineyards, one of Sonoma’s most respected grower sites. The Calling crafts this bottling with a fruit-driven and naturally energetic personality, allowing the vineyard character to shine through without excessive winemaking manipulation. A Russian River Chardonnay that leans vibrant and mouthwatering rather than overly buttery or heavy.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy tangerine, lemon curd, Honeycrisp apple, and ripe pear immediately jump from the glass. As the wine opens, layers of lemon verbena, ginger, citrus zest, jasmine, and subtle green tea nuances begin to unfold, adding complexity and freshness to the profile.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a rounded yet energetic texture. Bright acidity keeps the wine lively and refreshing while the fruit concentration gives it a generous California richness. The finish is persistent, citrus-driven, and beautifully mouthwatering.

Food Pairings
Excellent with roasted chicken, buttery seafood dishes, crab cakes, grilled salmon, creamy risotto, or triple cream cheeses.

Verdict
A compelling Russian River Chardonnay that balances generosity and freshness extremely well. The Dutton Ranch fruit gives this wine a very polished and expressive character while still maintaining tension and precision. Rich enough for California Chardonnay lovers, yet vibrant enough to remain highly approachable.

Did You Know?
Dutton Ranch is one of Sonoma’s most iconic multigenerational vineyard sources, supplying grapes to numerous top-tier California producers. Their cool-climate Russian River fruit is especially prized for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thanks to the region’s fog influence and long growing season.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the type of Chardonnay that reminds you why Russian River Valley became world famous for the style in the first place. Expressive, mouthwatering, and dangerously easy to revisit glass after glass. Cheers! — 2 months ago

Nichole Bosson

9.2

Atelier St Roch, Montpellier — 3 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

Saint Amour. Raspberries & stuff. — 5 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

Awesome...and surprisingly approachable given that it’s in the early edge of the estimated driking window from a couple of different sources. 15min in that new decanter and it’s ready to go (althought it has years of evolution ahead of it). Just fantastic! — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Eric Stec

9.3

2015 on May 21, 2019
A very distinct, unique red with tannins and fruit, but an unexpected and nuanced presence of berry, slight cinnamon, nutmeg and stone. Amazing round of all the reasons wine is a treasure. Hunting this down again! Costco Christmas package. — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

Another winner from Greywacke, Kevin Judd sources his Pinot Noir from the more clay-dominant Southern Valleys. The wine finds a more exotic profile for Pinot - macerated blood orange peel and pomegranate meet a dizzying array of spices and herbs - curry, saffron, smoke, spearmint, and thyme. Savory, well structured, and long. — 8 years ago

Ted

9.1

Beautiful. Bigger bodied wine than I was expecting with it having some age to it. — 3 months ago

with Jeni

Bob McDonald

9.3

One of the oldest sources of Shiraz in the Barossa with vines first planted in 1847 by Johann Fiedler, a Prussian Lutheran. Their premium wine, The Ancestor Shiraz is produced in minimal quantities from this original vineyard ($300). Since 1860 the Schulz family have been custodians of Turkey Flat. Getting back to this wine, just medium weight, not a Barossa blockbuster. Red spicy fruits, with a little pepper - a seamless palate. Recommended. The house style…, they aim for an elegant yet powerful wine. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Fruit sources from 7 organic vineyards over 3 AVA’s, Ruby with aromas of red/black fruits and earthy spices. On the palate youthful flavors of cherry and black raspberry, cacao, tea and licorice notes with elegant spice. Fine rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, cedar and earthy mineral notes. Good value! — 4 years ago

Kirsten Christiansen

9.5

One of the things I love in a Sauvignon blanc is when it has that green pepper thing going on and Marlborough is one of the most consistent sources for that so I always celebrate when I find a good one. And this is a good one. — 5 years ago

Brad S

9.2

Beautiful color. Outstanding value. — 7 years ago

D C

9.0

14% ALC quite tasty with only 48 hours on the skins. High ALC count for a white wine though! — 8 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.1

Nelson’s Green Brier sources the liquid for their Belle Meade Bourbon from Indiana, and now the ageing process is completed in Nashville. Each batch is a proprietary four-barrel blend with a 30% rye content. The rye shows itself on the finish, bringing earth tones and length alongside a red pepper flake spiciness. The palate is juicier, tasting of ripe nectarines, vanilla and butterscotch. — 8 years ago

romo

9.3

Called St Joe Syrah. Fig and plum smoke, beautiful balance. Took this home. — 4 months ago

DAL 9000

9.3

Bright this back from the AMA Bordeaux cruise. 2018 vs previous 2016 vintage. Bouquet of soft sour cherries! Dusty dry upfront of tannic dark sour cherries. Soft dusty finish. Nice old world flavors. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits, floral and new leather notes, fruit sources from several vineyard sites. On the palate flavors of cherry and plum fruits with tobacco and pepper spice. Firm chewy tannins, savory on a medium+ finish ending with notes of oak, mineral and earthy character. Drinking well now, good value. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Very pale lemon in colour. Grapefruit notes on nose and palate. Mineral notes with a bit of funk. In the lean style still with brisk acidity. Bellwether is a Coonawarra winery but Sue Bell sources this Chardonnay from the cool climate Tamar River in Tasmania. When I did vintage in early April at Bellwether a refrigerated tanker of the latest vintage arrived from the Tamar River which we then transferred into a combination of new and one year old oak puncheons for maturation. An excellent wine for its genre. — 5 years ago

Chris B.

9.2

According to sources much more knowledgeable than me, 2016 was a fine year for the Southern Rhône. This was a sumptuous bottle and at $32, a bargain for the quality. Smells like a sandalwood candle and tastes like ripe stone fruit (cherries, plums) but there’s enough lingering herbs and tannins to give it staying power. Tastes a little more alcoholic than it actually is but this only adds to its luster as a wonderful dinner wine. — 6 years ago

Thomas Brenner

9.2

There are some places in the world where they view present day America as a place where we expect to be happy. Should we feel bad they live in places where you should just expect hardship? We live in a time and place where we can focus on building our inner selves and have a chance at....When we're not constantly putting out fires we can really focus on...should that be a source of shame. When the desperate struggle to find food and shelter is finally behind us, we can turn our attention to other sources of pain and truth.
This is the kinda wine you feel bad about being able to enjoy. I feel privileged. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

Pillow Rd. Vineyard is situated to the southwest of Sebastopol, not far from the southern tip of the Russian River Valley, and planted to two acres of Chardonnay and seven acres of Pinot Noir. Clones 777, 115, and Pommard made up the first plantings in 2000, with Calera and Swan being added later (replacing Gravenstein apple trees). The vineyard has courted her fair share of suitors, originally being one of Duckhorn’s sources for its Goldeneye Pinot Noir. The first commercial vintage under the Pillow Rd. label was 2006. I’m not sure whether Ladera had entered the scene at that point, but it was definitely in time for their release of the 2009 vintage. In 2016 PlumpJack Group acquired Ladera’s Howell Mountain vineyard and winemaking facility, and while it appears the Pillow Rd. Vineyard wasn’t included in that sale, I haven’t seen anything that spells that out explicitly. Regardless, what is certain is that Napa Cab makers can’t quit this Russian River Pinot vineyard. It had some kinks to work out, but ultimately it’s built for pleasure and not complexity, and it eventually got there. Cherry cola, sassafras, baking spice, butterscotch, and just enough of a citrus edge to keep from losing its balance. — 8 years ago