Featured Wine: TOR Torchiana Chardonnay

This is indisputable: Tor knows a great vineyard. He works with some of the best grapes on the planet. That’s what a great producer does—combination of instinct and knowledge to be able to recognize the best, and then the talent to bring out the best from the best.  Tor, you see, is equal parts mystic, scientist, artist, music aficionado, lover of fine food, businessman and student of nature. As we taste through the Chardonnays and Red Varietals that he makes with winemaker Jeff Ames, there’s a strong voice that comes through in each glass—each wine is distinct, powerful in character, rich with vibrancy . . . a largesse of personality.

We loved this week’s lineup of TOR wines so much it was difficult to choose just one for our featured wine this week, but after a bit of hemming and hawing, the single vineyard, the 2015 TOR Torchiana Chardonnay emerged the shining star. This is always a favorite among the lineup due to the intensity that the old dry farmed vines provide this wine. Very Burgundian in style and Bottled unfined, unfiltered; this wine is an honest and true expression of the vineyard. This wine comes from a single three-acre Chardonnay vineyard Larry Hyde introduced to TOR in 2008. It is Named for Tor’s mother and this wine is an homage to her.

 

 

 

 2015 TOR ‘Torchiana’ Chardonnay

 

Robert Parker 96 Points! The aromatics here are more white flowers, sweet cream, lemon oil and crystallized ginger. The palate is very rich and full with terrific background acidity. The palate reveals some wet stone, mango, and tails off to an amazingly long finish.

 

Acquire TOR Chardonnay

 Did you miss last week’s featured wine?