Sand Hill Winery
Today's Wine:
2010 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
| Varietal: | Chardonnay |
| Region: | Sonoma Coast |
| Avg. Price: | $21.00 |
| Wine Spies: |
$16.49
(over 20% off)
|
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
We only showcase wines that we love. While our emphasis is on quality first, every now and again we come across a real standout wine that rises above. When we do, we issue alerts like this one.
SUPER QPR ALERT:
At today’s special Wine Spies price, this wine delivers tremendous value - and a drinking experience that exceeds expectations, easily earning it this special QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Alert.
Mission Codename: The Seed
- Operative
- Agent Red
- Objective
- Send Agent Red to investigate Pip Winery, the semi-covert sister label of old friends Dunstan Wines. Sample their budget-friendly Chardonnay and, if the wine lives up to our Operatives’ exacting standards, secure an ample allotment.
- Mission Status
- Accomplished!
- Winemaker
- Kenneth Juhasz
Final Assessment
We offer you a true delight, with today’s refreshingly delicious 2010 Pip Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from Dunstan Wines’ sister label, Sand Hill Winery.
Dunstan and Sand Hill have quickly become Wine Spies favorites, with their recent Pinot and Chardonnay features setting sales records and inspiring our Operatives to write to us for more. Dunstan’s Durell Vineyard sells fruit to ultra-premium labels Kistler, Chasseur and Chateau St. Jean.
Winemaker Kenneth Juhasz is a near two-decade veteran of the wine trade. His work with Dunstan, The Donum Estate, Robert Stemmler, Apogee and his own Auteur have earned him deep respect within wine circles. He has also garnered some of the highest scores.
Today’s delightful 2010 Pip Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is an approachable and very food-friendly wine that, at today’s price, should be very difficult for you to resist!
Tasting Profile
Glistening medium gold with perfect coloration from core to edge. The wine seems weighty when swirled.
Aromas are slightly lighter than the color would indicate, leading with lemon custard, lemon zest, sweet oaky vanilla, creme brûlée and limestone.
Crisp acidity drives flavors of Meyer lemon, light butterscotch, lemon verbina, yellow pomello, vanilla and soft oak.
Medium long and clean with lingering butterscotch, vanilla, oak and a subtle hint of zest at the tail end.
Enjoy this fresh summery wine with a pear and spinach salad with goat cheese. A poached butterfish in a lemon saffron reduction would also be incredible.
What the Winery Says
The 2010 PIP Chardonnay is sourced from two premium Sonoma Coast vineyard sites. Its rich, bright fruit aromas lead to vibrant and mouth filling flavors of ripe green apple and pear.
About a month before the 2010 harvest, a block of Chardonnay was orphaned at a premium vineyard in Sonoma. Being the true rescuers that we are, we adopted these grapes and named them Pip. Our passion is to source great Chardonnay from different vineyards to produce a great wine at an affordable price.
- Harvest
- October 19, 2010
- Alcohol
- 13.4%
- TA
- 0.56 g/100ml
- pH
- 3.87
About the Winery
Sand Hill Wines produces a single Pinot Noir (500 cases) and a Chardonnay (300 cases) from the renowned Durell Vineyard in the Sonoma Valley appellation. Durell Vineyard was planted in 1979 by owner Ed Durell and vineyard manager Steve Hill. The current owners are Elanor Phipps Price and Bill Price.
The Durell Vineyard extends from the southern end of the Sonoma Valley into the western end of the cool Carneros region. Perhaps the most famous producer sourcing grapes from this vineyard is Kistler Vineyards.
