Ron Rubin Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2013
I’m thrilled when the office receives samples. I’m even happier when the samples are of delicious wine. Last week we got a bottle of the Ron RubinĀ Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2013. I am thrilled to say it’s lovely.
Antonio and I both have an almost unhealthy obsession with Chardonnay from Burgundy. Unhealthy because the good stuff from that area can seriously break the bank. He usually looks down at California as many of the wines can be overpowered by oak.
I am pleased to say that although this bottle is most definitely Sonoma, the oak is elegant and in balance. I think this is due to the wine maker’s choice to utilize French oak, only 15% of which was new (American oak is more aggressive tends to add too much vanillin – and the newer the barrels, the more influential they are on the juice). I’m thrilled by this choice. 34% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel bringing in freshness to the juice in the bottle.
This wine does not fight you. It is gentle on the tongue and palate, you kinda want to let it sit on your tongue because it is so pleasant. There are flavors similar to Bosch pears which last quite a while. The vanilla and the kiss of oak come in ever so slightly towards the mid palate.
I love that the wine comes in stelvin (screw cap). This means there’s no chance of a corked bottle (and that I can sneak a bottle to the movie theater for those super long films).
The wine also held up, we popped the bottle in the fridge and tasted it two nights in a row. Delicious both nights.
We both loved the wine (something that rarely happens). Grab yourself a bottle, after first sip, he will become a good friend you can always count on (especially at a very fair price of $20 bucks).
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2013
Country: USA
Appellation: Sonoma (Russian River)
Ageing:Ā 66% was barrel fermented in 100% French Oak (15% of which was new), Ā the rest was fermented in stainless steel tanks
Drinking Temperature:Ā 50Ā° F
ABV: 13.7%
Size: 750ml
Type: White, flat
Closure Type: Screwcap
Food Pairing: Roasted Chicken, Salmon, Oysters
Retail Price:Ā $20 USD (totally worth it)
About the Winery
Ron Rubin studied viticulture and enology at UC Davis before getting into the wine industry in 1971. In 2011, he purchased land in the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, specifically Green Valley where theĀ Ron Rubin Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2013 is born.