Sign In

2018 Arista Winery U.V. El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

May 14, 2023 - $56

Estimate

RATINGS

95Wine Spectator

Big, rich and powerful, with concentrated apple and peach pastry flavors that are filled with cooking spice and custardy accents, followed by notes of buttered toast on the finish.

95Jeb Dunnuck

...full-throttle, rich, yet still poised and elegant style with lots of ripe melon, honeyed lemon, flower oil, crushed stone, and subtle toasty oak-like aromas and flavors. Beautiful on the palate, with lots of clean, crisp fruit as well as ample texture, it's balanced, has a great finish...

94The Wine Advocate

...an east-facing site planted to Montrachet and Wente clone vines on goldridge soils and farmed by the Valdez family. It's scented of citrus blossoms, Meyer lemon, toast and apples with an underpinning of stony mineral character. The palate is silky, tense and mineral-driven with bright orchard fruits and a long, textured finish.

94Vinous / IWC

...rich and textured in feel...bold, dramatic wine...races across the palate with striking depth and tons of textural richness. This is an especially oily, viscous Chardonnay, with all the elements nicely balanced. Tangerine oil, mint, honey, almond, dried flowers and chamomile all grace this caressing, inviting Chardonnay from Arista.

REGION

United States, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

TYPE

White Wine, Chardonnay

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.