De Loach 'Heritage Collection' Chardonnay 2021

We have tasted so many Cali Chards that are a soupy, buttery, hot mess. So imagine our surprise when we came across this great value little number that blew our socks off. Lovely luscious fruit here, predominately from the Russian River valley. There is apricot, citrus and honeysuckle with a zingy, mouthwatering acidity and unctuous creamy mouthfeel. Imagine drinking lemon curd and then refreshing your palate by biting into a juicy, ripe pear.

Established in 1973 by Cecil De Loach, a firefighter from San Francisco, De Loach was purchased by Burgundian Jean-Claude Boisset in 2003. His son Jean-Charles Boisset saw the similarities of the Russian River Valley with his native Burgundy and the potential that the region held for producing fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. One of his first decisions having acquired the estate was to convert the seven hectares of vineyard surrounding the winery to biodynamic farming. The ‘Heritage Collection’ range offers superb value and quality for mid-priced Californian wines. De Loach’s Russian River Valley fruit is supplemented by grapes sourced from like-minded growers in selected premium areas of California, particularly the Central Coast.