DRNK Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley is an everyday chardonnay that doesn’t assault the mouth with butter and oak, forcing you to call the Malo Police. Crisp, delicious, and a beautiful expression of two premiere Russian River Valley vineyards.
The Featured Wine of Episode 90, Pairs With DRNK Chardonnay and Blockchain Wine
Retail Price: $35.00
Wine Spies Price: $17.00
The Russian River Makes My Kind of Chardonnay
If you’ve read these pages or listened to the podcast, you know the style of chardonnay I crave. Typically, I only find that stainless tank-fermented, crisp, dry freshness from French chardonnays. But the Russian River appellation in Sonoma is often the exception, and this 2016 DRNK is right up my alley.
There’s barely a hint of the butteryness that comes from a rampaging malolactic fermentation – just enough for smooth mouthfeel on the finish. And no oak in sight either, thank god. This allows the subtleties of the gorgeous, Russian River fruit to come to the fore. This is especially important considering the origin of the fruit. It’s a blend of 60% Mill Station Vineyard and 40% Catie’s Corner Vineyard. Kudos to winemaker Ryan Kunde for allowing these amazing vineyard plots to speak for themselves.
About The DRNK Winery
DRNK stands for the family’s initials – Dale, Ryan, Nancy, Katie. DRNK produces distinctive small-lot wines based on winemaker Ryan Kunde’s deep knowledge of the vineyards and his aptitude for technology. It’s a better wine for the next generation.
Winemaking is in Ryan’s blood, with five generations of vineyard stewardship in Sonoma County dating back to the 1880s. Ryan is guided by a philosophy that blends an understanding of the land and tradition with evolving science and data that allows for precision winemaking.
Located in an idyllic setting, atop the Laguna Ridge in the heart of the Russian River Valley, DRNK Winery is home to a beautiful 300- foot wine cave, only four in the Russian River Valley.
Ryan is guided by a philosophy that blends an understanding of the land and tradition with evolving science and data that allows for precision winemaking. He is passionate about discovering new vineyard sites and specific meso-effects within each vineyard block and takes great pride in showcasing the quality and diversity of Sonoma County’s vineyards.
