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

Brian

9.3

1986 vintage, 40 year old wine on our 40th Anniversary — a month ago

Jenn

9.2

Very nice and truly enjoyed. — 2 months ago

romo

9.2

A bit of the old house style, not as focused as the recent 2013. Still a reference in balance for CA. — 3 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

8.9

Clear, medium ruby to garnet in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced intensity primary and secondary aromas of black cherries, cassis, and graphite; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, and intense primary and secondary flavors of blackberries, black cardamom, and wet gravel with a medium finish. This wine is simple, but balanced. Overall, I rate this wine as good. — 3 months ago

with Nellie

Paul Barnaby

9.0

Fruity beginning that opens up to a peppery finish. Very smooth. A bit over priced at $109. Didn’t see the complexity at that price point. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Deep purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Strong nose of red and purple fruits with light wood, spices, chocolates, herbs, black pepper and light earth.

Dry on the palate with sweet cherries, blueberries, black currants, light oak, chocolates, earth, spices, black pepper, tobacco leaf and dark coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Single Vineyard Zinfandel from Alexander Valley in California. Fruit forward and elegant. Rich and nicely balanced, complex and entertaining. Alcohol is nicely integrated by now.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 88% Zinfandel and 12% Petite Sirah, from old vines. Aged in (10% new) French Oak barrels for 15 months.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$55. — 19 days ago

Paul K

9.6

Blown away — 25 days ago

Dave

9.3

Found it! This is a light-handed Zin, and very delicious. Thanks for the recommendation! @Doug Powers @Anthony De Blasi
Listening to a little Depeche Mode!! — a month ago

Dave

9.1

This is delicious! Not made to age for the long haul, but it has a few years in it. Great cherry and raspberry flavors, smooth tannins. Just yummy, and I am inclined to like it better than the Muga I had earlier 😊
Listening to Gram Parsons — 2 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2022 vintage. Deep dark red colour. Raspberries, flowers and cedar. Concentrated, intense. Combines power and elegance. Many Crus Classés would be very satisfied with this quality for their grand vin. Henri Lurton stated that he made his best wines ever in 2022 (which is saying a lot given the track record of this Château), and you can see why with this Baron de Brane. One can only imagine the quality of the grand vin in 2022! Anyway, this is one of the finest wines one could encounter for 30 euros. Abv. 14%. — 3 months ago

Heather Rostker

9.6

Excellent — 4 months ago

with Emmett and Brian

Ed Chin

9.3

Big polished and showing a hint of heat. Happily the oak isn’t too pronounced. For me this baby needs time. — 4 days ago

Paul J

9.2

PnP. Lovely dark purple color. A little hot on the nose with stewed cherries, rhubarb, and licorice. Same on the palate minus the OH. Good texture yet flavor fades some. Solid wine for the price. — 19 days ago

with Brooke

Tom Garland

9.5

+1 hour decant(lots of fine/cloudy sediment). A splendid still inky dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: expressive notes of dark red fruit, currants, smoked meat, tobacco leaf, scorched earth, nutmeg. Taste: silky, layered, rich wine with ripe blackberry/blueberry, earth, baking spice, chocolate, and a long minerally espresso never-ending finish. YUM!! — 2 months ago

with Brenda

Daniel Akers

9.3

Like a fine burgundy, delicious — 2 months ago

Gregg Siegal

9.2

A gift from a friend, this is lovely, with a bit of tobacco on the nose and lively cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate. The finish goes on and on. — 2 months ago

Ted

9.4

The oldest of a 4 bottle vertical I bought a few weeks ago. In a perfect window. Made a vodka sauce and wow. Great compliment. Fresh herbs after an hour of being open. Can’t wait to try the other 3 years. — 3 months ago

with Jeni

Bob Boyle

9.3

Perfectly balanced, no browning on the edges, long finish — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.7

Wonderful deep and rich wine. This is in great shape. Dark plum and blakcurrant with iron and bloody intensity. Great tension and complexity. So fresh. This is great — 5 months ago

with Bex and David