01 Jun Russian River Valley Chardonnay – 2021 Raeburn
In the wine world, California is a wonder.
With its amazingly diverse topography and climate,
California is home to well over one hundred
distinct wine-making areas.
Napa, of course, is the most famous.
But the relatively-nearby Russian River Valley
has also become world renowned.
Heavily influenced by fog and breezes that move inland
from the Pacific Ocean, the Russian River Valley
has long been an ideal location for growing cool-climate grapes
such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
It’s Wine Thursday!
Every Thursday, we take a look at a good wine
that sells at a reasonable price and is easy to find
at your store and online.
While Russian River Valley Chardonnay can be quite expensive…
upwards of $200 a bottle…this week’s featured wine delivers
RRV quality at a fraction of that price.
Where it’s from
The lower Russian River flows northwest of Santa Rosa
on its way to the Pacific Ocean. Just south of the river
lies the small town of Graton, home of Raeburn Winery
and several other acclaimed Russian River Valley producers.
What it is
The typical growing-season weather in the
Russian River Valley…warm days and cool nights…
provide optimal conditions for making distinctive Chardonnay.
Raeburn’s 2021 effort is, by California Chardonnay standards,
on the light side. There are baked apple and vanilla flavors
with just a slight touch of oak.
This has a hint of sweetness but also shows
enough acid to work toward a crisp, dry finish.
It’s smooth, well-rounded and for less than $20,
an all-around impressive, and certainly affordable,
Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
Where to buy it
Raeburn’s 2021 Chardonnay is at Walmart for $15.98.
Total Wine’s price is $15.99. It’s at Fred Meyer for $16.99.
Safeway, Albertsons and QFC have it for $17.99.
The price at Target, Vons and BevMo is $18.99.
You can order it from Wine Library for $14.11
The price at Vine Republic is $14.18
Universal Fine Wine has it for $14.98
and B-21 also has it for $14.98