2011 Diatom Chardonnay Hamon
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Tasting notes
(16.3% alcohol): Green-tinged yellow. Exuberant pear, peach nectar and honey on the nose, with anise, ginger and floral qualities adding complexity. Zesty ginger- and mineral-accented orchard fruit flavors possess striking depth and surprising clarity, showing a wild blend of richness and vivacity. Finishes with impressive energy and persistence, leaving poached pear and lemon curd notes behind.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Chardonnay Hamon is another big wine. Dried apricots, peaches, flowers and mint take shape in the glass. The lush, expressive finish is buffered by the vibrancy acidty and minerality of a very late harvest.
The 2011 Chardonnay Hamon is another big wine. Dried apricots, peaches, flowers and mint take shape in the glass. The lush, expressive finish is buffered by the vibrancy, acidity and minerality of a very late harvest. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014. I am a big fan of Greg Brewer and most of his wines, but I have to be honest that I don’t get what he is trying to accomplish with Diatom. Brewer says he is going for a pure, minimalist style that emphasizes the unique sites he works with, “like the perfect cut of toro tuna,” he adds. That may be the intention, and it certainly sounds good, but to me the work that is required in the cellar to get these wines into bottle by late March of the year following the harvest is all about intervention, and involves the use of commercial yeasts and sterile filtration, among other things, all of which permit an unusually short elevage. Some readers may find pleasure in the severe austerity of these wines, but I do not. To be fair, I have enjoyed the Diatom wines in the recent past, so perhaps it is just a question of a tough vintage. Tel. (805) 452-5609; www.diatomwines.com