Freddy R. Troya

9.2

The Calling “Dutton Ranch” Chardonnay 2023
Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A very expressive and generously styled Chardonnay sourced from the legendary Dutton Ranch vineyards, one of Sonoma’s most respected grower sites. The Calling crafts this bottling with a fruit-driven and naturally energetic personality, allowing the vineyard character to shine through without excessive winemaking manipulation. A Russian River Chardonnay that leans vibrant and mouthwatering rather than overly buttery or heavy.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy tangerine, lemon curd, Honeycrisp apple, and ripe pear immediately jump from the glass. As the wine opens, layers of lemon verbena, ginger, citrus zest, jasmine, and subtle green tea nuances begin to unfold, adding complexity and freshness to the profile.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a rounded yet energetic texture. Bright acidity keeps the wine lively and refreshing while the fruit concentration gives it a generous California richness. The finish is persistent, citrus-driven, and beautifully mouthwatering.

Food Pairings
Excellent with roasted chicken, buttery seafood dishes, crab cakes, grilled salmon, creamy risotto, or triple cream cheeses.

Verdict
A compelling Russian River Chardonnay that balances generosity and freshness extremely well. The Dutton Ranch fruit gives this wine a very polished and expressive character while still maintaining tension and precision. Rich enough for California Chardonnay lovers, yet vibrant enough to remain highly approachable.

Did You Know?
Dutton Ranch is one of Sonoma’s most iconic multigenerational vineyard sources, supplying grapes to numerous top-tier California producers. Their cool-climate Russian River fruit is especially prized for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thanks to the region’s fog influence and long growing season.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the type of Chardonnay that reminds you why Russian River Valley became world famous for the style in the first place. Expressive, mouthwatering, and dangerously easy to revisit glass after glass. Cheers! — a month ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Juicy and with a touch of sweetness. This was very pleasant and paired well with cheese. — 7 months ago

Brandon Boesch

9.7

Really great. Needs about 3 hours of air. So well balanced. A lot of cocoa, blackberry, garden dirt, some tree bark, some chocolate cherries, but very dark, some menthol in the background, long finish, almost coffee and cocoa, some fruits as well. Outstanding! — a year ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Bright ruby red color. Bountiful aromas of red berries and dried violets. Pallet is full of strawberry and raspberry fruit with hints of black tea, baking spices, earth and pepper spice. Just a bit of a “gamey” quality as well. Nice hint of oak on the clean finish. Fine tannins and bright acidity. Creamy texture. Rich and nicely rounded. Absolutely a “California-Style” Pinot Noir. Nice choice, Mark Smith. — 3 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.2

Well balanced zin. BlackBerry, cinnamon, spice, and a touch of charcoal. Very under rated and these are excellent zins — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of 88% Cab Sauv, 8% Petit Verdot & 4% Cab Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of juicy red and black fruits, sweet spice with floral notes. The palate is loaded with vibrant ripe fruit, cherry, blueberry and blackberry flavors with vanilla cedar, some cacao and currants notes, well balanced. Fine round tannins with great mouthfeel, long ending with a powerhouse of fruit and sweet spice on the finish. Great now but has plenty of room to run. — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.1

The 2018 Sbragia Family Vineyards ‘Home Ranch’ Chardonnay is a seriously good effort from famed winemaker Ed Sbragia. On the nose this grabs your attention with baked pear, marzipan and shades of lemon cream that all fill the glass. The bright acidity is lovely here as lemon creme brûlée, ripe pineapple and shades of butterscotch flavors all enter the fray. While a delight to savor in its youth this excellent wine will cellar well for a decade or more, picking up earthy tertiary notes as it evolves. Drink 2019-2029- 91 — 7 years ago

Paul J

9.6

Somewhat cloudy gold color. Melons, camomile, and a touch of peach on the nose. Same on the palate. Massive depth and long finish. Zero acidity. Very well made. — 2 months ago

with Brooke

Austin Blackwell

9.3

Roasted pineapple, hazelnut, and a hint of citrus delivers a rebound of acidity within a rich palate. Creamy and broad with well integrated oak. — 5 months ago

with Angelina

John Malcolm

10

Spectacular, full-bodied, and intense, yet silky smooth. Drinking well now, but plenty of time left. Dark chocolate, dark cherries, cassis, oregano and other herbs. Decanted for about four hours. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Lemon gold color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with citrus, sweet floral and complex spice, no MLF. On the palate flavors of ripe melon, pineapple, apricot and honeysuckle notes with lemon zest and biscuit notes, delicate, complex and well balanced, big and full Chardonnay. Long finish, savory, ending with mineral tones and fresh finish. Will age well. Outstanding! While I usually do not decant whites, this one will benefit to breathe a bit! — 10 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.2

Black cherry, dark chocolate, cloves, oak, the Rutherford dust. Smooth tannins. Solid backbone. Earthy. Needs some time to open up, but drinking well now. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose shows a mix of ripe, dried, slightly candied & floral fruits that are; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, both plums, raspberries, slightly fermented strawberries & dry cranberries with haunting blueberries. Dark, pronounced spices, clove, vanilla, touch of cinnamon stick, dark, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, core and f anise leading to some black licorice, ambers, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, mix of blue & purple cola, mint, tree sap with bark, slightly withering & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue.

The body is medium full, rich, ripe with nice viscosity. She has a light tannin feeling. Mix of ripe, dried, slightly candied & floral fruits that are; blackberries, dry, dark cherries, black raspberries, both plums, raspberries, slightly fermented strawberries & dry cranberries with haunting blueberries. Dark, pronounced spices with mid to strong heat, clove, vanilla, touch of cinnamon stick, salted caramel, dark, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, core of anise leading to some black licorice, ambers, incense, dry tobacco, savory, grilled meats, used leather, dry & fresh herbs, mint, limestone, dry, crushed rock powder, mix of blue & purple cola, mint, tree sap with bark, slightly withering & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue. The acidity is a cool mountain stream. The finish is; nicely knitted, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, fruit juicy falling onto spice & earth persisting several minutes.

Good...still needs 3-5 years in prison before it gives more back.

12/26/20 Happy Boxing Day! 🎁 — 5 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.9

Young and fresh but showing many of the Dolinsek’s traditional traits: a big nose of blue and black fruits followed by a fruit forward wine of the same. It’s got bright acidity and firm tannins with a hint of black olive and pepper deeper in the wine. Drinking well now with loads of potential. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you like Ca Chardonnay with firm wood-warmer climate backbone structure, this probably isn’t for you. It is closer to white burgundy, which is why I buy it occasionally. It reminds me of the a leaner, less viscous, 2014/16 Domaine de la Bongran Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet.

The palate is perfectly ripe; green apple, lemon/lime juicy pulp w/ zest, grapefruit with pith, tropical melon, white stone fruit, marmalade as it warms & opens up, Bosc pear w/ skin & lychees. Honey notes, but less than Viré-Clessé Cuvée E.J. Thevenet, caramel, milk froth, vanillin, dry limestone powered, toast crust, some white spice, grey volcanics, saline notes, yellow lilies, white flowers, jasmine blossoms, mixed in greens, very pleasant acidity, well; knitted, balanced, good tension, medium structure and a smarty polished 90 second finish that settles on spice and minerals. — 4 months ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.5

Really smooth, paired well with prime rib — 7 months ago

with Tammy, Emmett and 3 others

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and nutty scents. On the palate complex flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A beautiful Chardonnay. — a year ago

Bruce Leboff

9.2

Wry youthful. Lots of tannin - and a bit of Cali Cab sweetness on the palate. Ripe red berries and a hint of Vanilla ( American oak) on the nose. Drinking well. #hayfork — 5 years ago

with David

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.3

Evolving beautifully and likely not at its peak yet, this wine was gorgeous with cherry and cranberry compote flavors touched with cedar and dried herbs. On the richer, riper side of things but only just. A very fine way to spend an afternoon with friends (six feet distant). Well done @Ehren Jordan — 6 years ago

Clarke Gasper

9.4

In a great place right now. Day 1: High tannin, high acid, high alcohol, and high fruit forward sweetness all in perfect balance! Definitely recommend with some hearty food. Day 3: With a quarter bottle left the wine gained some color and has become highly aromatic. Lavender, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf with hints of jasmine. The tannins have melted away and its like biting into a perfectly ripe plum, really well done! — 7 years ago

with Matthew