2013 Cattleya, Chardonnay, Pratt Vineyard, Russian River Valley.
The talented Colombian winemaker Bibiana Gonzalez Rave-Pisoni is crafting some amazing wines under her Cattleya label, as well as guiding Pahlmeyer’s Sonoma Coast wines and vines, and her and her husband’s (Jeff Pisoni) Shared Notes offerings. I was impressed by her Donum Vineyard Pinot Noir and her fantastic Soberanes Alban Clone Syrah is one of the best Syrah wines from the 2012 vintage I have tasted, but new and particularly outstanding is her latest Chardonnay release, an old Wente clone selection from Pratt Vineyard in a cooler site of the Russian River, this is a luxurious wine that rivals the best from California in that top of line range, it is right up there with Peter Michael, Aubert, Kistler and the single vineyard Rochioli Chards. Her experience with vines, as a vineyard manager, and stints in Bordeaux and Cote-Rotie have given Gonzalez Rave-Pisoni a special touch which shows through in her wines, if you’ve not tried her wines, you should be sure to check them out at the earliest possible opportunity, these are bottlings that are decedent, pure and full of pleasure with great life and intensity, especially this Pratt Vineyard 2013 Chardonnay that shows layers of dense fruit, but with plenty of vitality and elegance. The 2013 Pratt from Cattleya starts with mineral tones, honeysuckle, white peach and tropical notes leading to a gorgeous palate of lemon chiffon, apple. pear and golden fig fruits, wet stones, a hint of saline, vanilla and exotic citrus and brioche along with creamy texture and a super long finish. The small berry, Wente clone gives the glorious combination of concentration and vigor, allowing for incredible richness and vigor, this is heady and hedonistic, but with wonderful finesse and focus, drink from 2015 to 2020.
($68 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
