Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1994 as a result of Don and Jennifer Hartford's appreciation for the wines, the people, and the unique vineyards near their Russian River Valley home. Located in the Sonoma County town of Forestville, the winery is about 15 miles from the cool Pacific Coast. Making delicious wines of high personality is directly related to the difficult locations of their vineyard sources, the limited production of their bottlings and the varietals they use. "Character through adversity" is an expression that they believe applies to people and grapevines, and surviving adversity builds character, and personality, in both.
The Russian River Valley is one of THE best places in the world for growing Chardonnay. The cooling winds from the Pacific Ocean spread throughout the area, and help to moderate the temperatures throughout the day, whereas areas just to the east are exceptionally warmer. Also, the soils are a mix of sand, clay, and silt. The clay brings richness to a wine, while the sand brings more flowered aromatics and brightness in the wine. If you ask us, this sounds like the recipe for Chardonnay perfection!
All the Hartford vineyards are sustainably-farmed at a minimum, with many of them being farmed organically. Aged for 10 months in French oak (of which 25% of those barrels were new).
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS - "Coming from across the neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is ripe with aromas of toasted spice, orange rind, preserved lemon, honeysuckle, and baked apples. Full-bodied, with a ripe, classic feel, it has a nice, rounded mouthfeel and offers a lovely sense of place. Drink 2024-2030."
The Russian River Valley is one of THE best places in the world for growing Chardonnay. The cooling winds from the Pacific Ocean spread throughout the area, and help to moderate the temperatures throughout the day, whereas areas just to the east are exceptionally warmer. Also, the soils are a mix of sand, clay, and silt. The clay brings richness to a wine, while the sand brings more flowered aromatics and brightness in the wine. If you ask us, this sounds like the recipe for Chardonnay perfection!
All the Hartford vineyards are sustainably-farmed at a minimum, with many of them being farmed organically. Aged for 10 months in French oak (of which 25% of those barrels were new).
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS - "Coming from across the neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is ripe with aromas of toasted spice, orange rind, preserved lemon, honeysuckle, and baked apples. Full-bodied, with a ripe, classic feel, it has a nice, rounded mouthfeel and offers a lovely sense of place. Drink 2024-2030."
Overall Rating
5 out of 5 Based on 1 Review
-
24th Aug 2021
Hartford Court 2019 Chardonnay
Classic old style California Chardonnay; crisp and balanced with flavors of vanilla and oak, but not too much.
