An Evening with Donald Patz of Patz & Hall

Enjoyed a very informative evening with Donald Patz, of the chardonnay and pinot house of Patz and Hall. Don walked us through five chardonnays and four pinots. The Patz and Hall style is noticeable in all the wines. Concerning chardonnays, the style is 100% malolactic but still very lean and muscular, and with plenty of minerality. And as the notes below suggest, wines like the Dutton are really the future of chardonnay. Concerning pinot, the style is medium plus to full, plenty of fruit forward fruit of a darker black cherry-raspberry profile and some spice and french oak flavors. But really all about the fruit here, which is refined and concentrated. Excellent wine! Joined with Alison and Kathy tonight.

• 2009 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Nose reveals some lemon citrus and some apple, toast and malolactic flavors, a strong current of banana and some other tropical notes. Palate is a nice balance of rich and lean. Slightly noticeable alcohol and could use a little more acidity to balance. But still a very pleasing effort and a very attractive nose.

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• 2009 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  In my humble opinion the wine of the Patz chardonnay lineup. Outstanding effort. Lemon cites, with green melon, a pretty white floral note and lots of steely minerality. This wine, despite having 100% malolactic, is surprisingly balanced and beautifully lean and acidic. Subtle and delicate flavors. Some papaya on the palate and a hint of smoke. I wish winemakers in California take heed and make wine like this more often, this is the future of Chardonnay. Lean and mean and very complex. Long finish.

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• 2009 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Showing slightly more concentration than Dutton, but still plenty of subtle and delicate complexity. Steely yet rich. Interesting aromas of toast, kernel, almond and a deep floral. Long finish with plenty of minerality. Very nice and nearly as impressive as the Dutton.

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• 2009 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Very pretty but not as impressive as some of the other chardonnays in the lineup. Nose is rich, slightly buttery and tropic, with more heaviness. Banana and honeydew, popcorn and deep floral, almost a gardenia note. Still some pleasing mineralit, but much more rich. Not really the Patz style (or mine), and lacking some subtle delicacy and leanness, but will please many who love the classic California style.

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• 2009 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Beautiful wine and as pleasing as the Dutton, but in a richer manner. Green melon and plenty of cantaloupe, some light toast, a streak of meaty papaya and a rich but lean nose and palate. Again, the Patz style shows beautifully. Richer than the Dutton and Hyde, but having plenty of leanness and muscle, instead of fat. Awesome minerality. Outstanding wine that is complex, concentrated and will benefit from some time.

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• 2010 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Nose reveals sour and black cherry, and a noticeable streak of raspberry. Violets. Also a beautiful bright ruby color. Hint of cinnamon. Very fruit forward, California in style, and showcasing beautiful fruit here. Very nice for a wine that you can and should enjoy now or within a year.

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• 2009 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Now we are seeing more complexity here. The fruit if plenty of black cherry, with a gingerbread and anise spice. Subtle hints of deep refined cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of mint. Good minerality. There is a meatiness to this wine, with a full body and medium plus tannins. Still some delicacy, but this is definitely a cab lover's pinot. Wins points for complexity and good concentration.

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• 2009 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Chenoweth Ranch 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Again, a very complex wine that is rich and concentrated, but slightly more balanced than the Hyde. Still large. Plenty of black cherry, some plum and raspberry, violet and a strong perfume that is missing or downplayed in the other lineup pinots. Good balancing acidity, but still rich and concentrated. Excellent wine with a long and complex finish. Might be underrating it here.

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• 2009 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

  The pinot of the night. Beautiful and complex, refined fruit nose of black cherry, rhubarb and plenty of pomegranate. Dense and tight nose, that is full and rich. French oak flavors. Palate is full, with full tannins and a rich long finish with nearly seamless balance. Beautiful fruit! This wine is still young and borderline not ready to drink right now. I would sit for 2 to 3 years. But it is complex, concentrated and large, but still feminine. Not the delicacy of Audrey Hepburn, nor the sexiness of Penelope Cruz, but maybe the class and persona of Meryl Streep? Classy, concentrated and complex.

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