Amici Cellars
Flora Marie Vineyard Chardonnay
Napa Valley, California, USA
Amici Cellars – Flora Marie Vineyard – Chard – 2018
Russian River Valley – Sonoma County – California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A benchmark New World Chardonnay and a true winemaker’s vintage. The 2018 growing season in Russian River Valley was cool and even, with no major heat spikes, allowing fruit from Flora Marie Vineyard to be harvested at ideal ripeness. This wine is all about patience, balance, and restraint, a Chardonnay that prioritizes purity and structure over excess, and one that quietly rivals top white Burgundies in poise and longevity.
Aromas & Flavors
Mineral-driven and refined on the nose, with delicate white florals and a subtle saline edge. The palate unfolds in layers: baked pineapple, citrus zest, yellow pear, and gentle stone fruit, all woven together with remarkable precision. The fruit is expressive yet never loud, framed by a quiet, savory mineral backbone.
Mouthfeel
Silky and composed, medium-to-full-bodied without weightiness. The texture glides across the palate with effortless balance, supported by fresh acidity and an underlying sense of tension. The finish is long, clean, and quietly complex, lingering without overreaching.
Food Pairings
Roasted chicken with herbs, seared scallops, halibut, lobster with olive oil or beurre blanc, mushroom risotto, or simply on its own as a contemplative glass. Equally at home at the table or in the cellar.
Verdict
A masterclass in restraint and purity. This is Chardonnay for those who value nuance, structure, and site expression over overt oak or power. Rare, hard to find, and deeply rewarding, one of the most compelling New World Chardonnays I’ve tasted.
Did You Know?
Flora Marie Vineyard is planted with Montrachet-derived clones from the Côte de Beaune, bringing Burgundian heritage into the cool-climate ridgelines of Russian River Valley, one reason this wine delivers such seamless balance between Old World elegance and New World clarity.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is my favorite New World Chardonnay. Period. Elegant, layered, and quietly profound. If you ever come across a bottle, especially this 2018, don’t hesitate. It speaks far beyond what words can capture.
Amici Cellars – Flora Marie Vineyard – Chard – 2018
Russian River Valley – Sonoma County – California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A benchmark New World Chardonnay and a true winemaker’s vintage. The 2018 growing season in Russian River Valley was cool and even, with no major heat spikes, allowing fruit from Flora Marie Vineyard to be harvested at ideal ripeness. This wine is all about patience, balance, and restraint, a Chardonnay that prioritizes purity and structure over excess, and one that quietly rivals top white Burgundies in poise and longevity.
Aromas & Flavors
Mineral-driven and refined on the nose, with delicate white florals and a subtle saline edge. The palate unfolds in layers: baked pineapple, citrus zest, yellow pear, and gentle stone fruit, all woven together with remarkable precision. The fruit is expressive yet never loud, framed by a quiet, savory mineral backbone.
Mouthfeel
Silky and composed, medium-to-full-bodied without weightiness. The texture glides across the palate with effortless balance, supported by fresh acidity and an underlying sense of tension. The finish is long, clean, and quietly complex, lingering without overreaching.
Food Pairings
Roasted chicken with herbs, seared scallops, halibut, lobster with olive oil or beurre blanc, mushroom risotto, or simply on its own as a contemplative glass. Equally at home at the table or in the cellar.
Verdict
A masterclass in restraint and purity. This is Chardonnay for those who value nuance, structure, and site expression over overt oak or power. Rare, hard to find, and deeply rewarding, one of the most compelling New World Chardonnays I’ve tasted.
Did You Know?
Flora Marie Vineyard is planted with Montrachet-derived clones from the Côte de Beaune, bringing Burgundian heritage into the cool-climate ridgelines of Russian River Valley, one reason this wine delivers such seamless balance between Old World elegance and New World clarity.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is my favorite New World Chardonnay. Period. Elegant, layered, and quietly profound. If you ever come across a bottle, especially this 2018, don’t hesitate. It speaks far beyond what words can capture.
This was exceptionally good. @Anthony Biagi strikes again. Can’t wait for Patria chard!
This was exceptionally good. @Anthony Biagi strikes again. Can’t wait for Patria chard!
Jun 21st, 2020