2014 Fisher Vineyards Unity Chardonnay $42

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2014 Fisher Vineyards Unity Chardonnay $42

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of lemongrass, almond brioche and green apple give way to flavors of rich lemon custard, honeydew melon and hints of vanilla bean on the palate. Bright acid and subtle minerality lead to a lengthy, mouthwatering finish. 2014 may just be our finest UNITY Chardonnay yet!”

Blend:  100% chardonnay
Alcohol Level:  14.1
Cases Produced:  1,733
Winemaker:  Whitney Fisher
Maturity:  This wine is ready to drink this very moment, though no doubt it will maintain its heft and authority for the foreseeable future. . .but no point in deferring opening this beautiful wine.

Pairings:  Perhaps the best solution is to pair this with a few of your closest friends who understand and appreciate wine.  Huddle around the bottle in deep conversation about anything except politics.  It would also go nicely with a selection of artisan cheeses before dinner.

Gary1Staff Review:  GARY MOFFAT – If we’ve ever had a Wine Club selection from Fisher Vineyards, I missed it. . .but I’m glad Drew located this gem.  The winery is a family operation from stem to stern, owned by Fred and Juelle Fisher with three children in key positions:  Whitney, winemaker; Rob, GM; Cameron, sales and marketing.

There are no sheepskins from U.C. Davis hanging anywhere on the estate. . .just Harvard, Princeton and Duke.  I’m sure the team is making do!  As a bonus, Rob is a Wall Street refugee where he worked on M&A deals, presenting a nice edge in handling finances. . .or in preparing for when one of the mega-companies comes knocking.

I was called off the bench to review this one and though I’m not a recognized chard expert, the 2014 Unity Chardonnay is killer.  It exhibits explosive fruit–precisely as annotated in the winery tasting notes at the top of this column.  What hooked me was the blast of intense fruit chased by a toasty almond pop. . .and the fact that though the wine is aged in 30% new French oak barrels, another 10% is aged in 500-liter puncheons–more than double the size of the ubiquitous barrel–kayoing the typical butter/wood combination punch.

 

 

 

 

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