2016 Failla Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard

Perfumed notes of mint, iris flower, green citrus and a wet rock-like minerality emerge from the 2016 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard. It shows more and more classic orchard fruits with time in the glass and has remarkable purity, good acidity, and a classic feel. I suspect it will age for a decade as well. Readers looking for a serious lineup of single vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay that have a distinctly Burgundian vibe need to check out these releases from Ehren Jordan and Savanna Wright. Failla owns prime terroirs on the Sonoma Coast, as well as has access to some of the best vineyards in the region. While these aren’t for those craving big, powerful wines, they have plenty of intensity as well as singular profiles. In addition to the Sonoma releases, Jordan’s Oregon releases and a few Rhône variety wines are also included in this report.

Another brilliant wine in this range, the 2016 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is superb. Dense, powerful and beautifully layered, the 2016 exudes richness in all of its dimensions. There is plenty of Hudson textural resonance, but the 2016 is at the same time quite polished and refined. I very much admire the sense of balance.