Admittedly, I bought this off a discount rack at my local liquor store — net price about $15. It definitely has seen better days. I had never tried a Dutton-Goldfield Chardonnay and wanted to, but the regular price inhibited me. Place this wine in the Rombauer style of Chardonnay — i.e., soft, sweet, low acid, somewhat tropical, oak evident — though not quite as over-the top as the Rombauer. I prefer the mostly underappreciated Chardonnays from the Mâcon, which possess great acidity, while the best ones, including the Pouilly-Fuissés, show a wonderful creaminess. If you still have some of this D-G Chardonnay, drink up.
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Crisp, well balanced in all regards, with a concomitant richness in accord with the acidity. As with a premier /grande cru Burgundy, one needs not a high alcohol level to provide depth and lively flavors dancing over the palate with a custardy component carrying over the lingering finish. Top drawer Russian River Valley Chardonnay my wife and I are enjoying on our 25th wedding anniversary. At half the price of a Rochioli Chardonnay this wine is serious juice. As with all wines taste is subjective, and the particular fruit flavors will be taster specific in the final assessment. This is not a flabby or overtly malolacticly vinified wine. Think Meursault.
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If you like a big oaky vanilla tropical fruit butterball, this wines for you.
If you prefer something with a little more minerality, structure, green apple/pear/hazelnut instead of toasted coconut and pineapple, this wines NOT for you.
The Costco price @$20 is solid.
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Solid QPR for $20 at Costco- wouldn't be super happy with the listed $35-$40 price. Some really pretty character, although not super expressive, and seems to be missing a little depth? I'm still limited in my Chardonnay experience.
Sort of a gentle nose little pops of pineapple, chalk, maybe coconut; I actually really liked the occasional moments when the oak showed itself (super faintly buttery), but most of the time it was dominated by a sort of salty tone that didn't seem to work in harmony with the fruit. I like an intense saline character in most white wines, but here it didn't seem fully integrated. Still a nice nose, just difficult to really get a bead on.
Nicely energetic palate that feels fairly simple, although I like the expressivity of the fruit- lots of bright lemon, pineapple, gentle minerality, etc. Didn't really seem to evolve much over three days (certainly held up well), but I'll also note that pairing it with salty food really helped the ripeness and the subtle oak come to the fore, so I think this may just be food wine.
white wine (gold). Aromas of buttered popcorn, slight wood smell, and peach. Off dry, medium acid, no tannin, medium alcohol, medium plus body. Flavors of butter, marmalade, and citrus.
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Like its 2017 sibling, Dutton Goldfield's 2018 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay was sourced from multiple vineyards (primarily within Green Valley), 100% barrel fermented, allowed to undergo complete malolactic fermentation and aged for 10 months in French oak barriques (40% new). This combination of vinification techniques again has resulted in a nicely balanced, freshly acidic offering that delivers a crisp package of clementines, stone fruits, jasmine, ginger, vanilla and pineapple. Light golden, medium-bodied and with well-integrated alcohol (13.5%), it incorporates a judicious amount of oak and has good mid-palate density. Lengthy and vibrant on the back end, this is a complex New World Chardonnay that should provide pleasure over the next few years. Drink now-2025.
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This had lush tropical fruit, pineapple, quince, and Asian pear, the palate was fresh and succulent with crisp orchard fruit heading towards more key lime pie, sweet spices and tropical tart which filled the palate, the finish was buttery yet with focus and not heavy. This wine never disappoints.
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1/16/2024 - oakville72 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Admittedly, I bought this off a discount rack at my local liquor store — net price about $15. It definitely has seen better days. I had never tried a Dutton-Goldfield Chardonnay and wanted to, but the regular price inhibited me. Place this wine in the Rombauer style of Chardonnay — i.e., soft, sweet, low acid, somewhat tropical, oak evident — though not quite as over-the top as the Rombauer. I prefer the mostly underappreciated Chardonnays from the Mâcon, which possess great acidity, while the best ones, including the Pouilly-Fuissés, show a wonderful creaminess. If you still have some of this D-G Chardonnay, drink up.
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3/4/2022 - heidoanddave Likes this wine: 91 Points
A lovely Chardonnay
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11/12/2021 - Josch48 wrote: 93 Points
Crisp, well balanced in all regards, with a concomitant richness in accord with the acidity. As with a premier /grande cru Burgundy, one needs not a high alcohol level to provide depth and lively flavors dancing over the palate with a custardy component carrying over the lingering finish. Top drawer Russian River Valley Chardonnay my wife and I are enjoying on our 25th wedding anniversary. At half the price of a Rochioli Chardonnay this wine is serious juice. As with all wines taste is subjective, and the particular fruit flavors will be taster specific in the final assessment. This is not a flabby or overtly malolacticly vinified wine. Think Meursault.
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9/18/2021 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 87 Points
So this comes down to style.
If you like a big oaky vanilla tropical fruit butterball, this wines for you.
If you prefer something with a little more minerality, structure, green apple/pear/hazelnut instead of toasted coconut and pineapple, this wines NOT for you.
The Costco price @$20 is solid.
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8/2/2021 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid QPR for $20 at Costco- wouldn't be super happy with the listed $35-$40 price. Some really pretty character, although not super expressive, and seems to be missing a little depth? I'm still limited in my Chardonnay experience.
Sort of a gentle nose little pops of pineapple, chalk, maybe coconut; I actually really liked the occasional moments when the oak showed itself (super faintly buttery), but most of the time it was dominated by a sort of salty tone that didn't seem to work in harmony with the fruit. I like an intense saline character in most white wines, but here it didn't seem fully integrated. Still a nice nose, just difficult to really get a bead on.
Nicely energetic palate that feels fairly simple, although I like the expressivity of the fruit- lots of bright lemon, pineapple, gentle minerality, etc. Didn't really seem to evolve much over three days (certainly held up well), but I'll also note that pairing it with salty food really helped the ripeness and the subtle oak come to the fore, so I think this may just be food wine.
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5/5/2021 - mahmudn wrote: 75 Points
white wine (gold). Aromas of buttered popcorn, slight wood smell, and peach. Off dry, medium acid, no tannin, medium alcohol, medium plus body. Flavors of butter, marmalade, and citrus.
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4/19/2021 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 92 Points
Like its 2017 sibling, Dutton Goldfield's 2018 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay was sourced from multiple vineyards (primarily within Green Valley), 100% barrel fermented, allowed to undergo complete malolactic fermentation and aged for 10 months in French oak barriques (40% new). This combination of vinification techniques again has resulted in a nicely balanced, freshly acidic offering that delivers a crisp package of clementines, stone fruits, jasmine, ginger, vanilla and pineapple. Light golden, medium-bodied and with well-integrated alcohol (13.5%), it incorporates a judicious amount of oak and has good mid-palate density. Lengthy and vibrant on the back end, this is a complex New World Chardonnay that should provide pleasure over the next few years. Drink now-2025.
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12/31/2020 - A&C Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very drinkable and nice chardonnay. Yummy stuff.
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10/20/2020 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 92 Points
This had lush tropical fruit, pineapple, quince, and Asian pear, the palate was fresh and succulent with crisp orchard fruit heading towards more key lime pie, sweet spices and tropical tart which filled the palate, the finish was buttery yet with focus and not heavy. This wine never disappoints.
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