Tasting notes: The subtle sweetness of honeysuckle greets the nose, as do aromas of candied lemon, lychee, and beeswax. The crisp, full, and lush palate saturates the taste buds with white-peach, ripe-pear, lemon, and lime flavors that arise from the wine’s dense nectar-like depths, which gradually recede to make way for a long finish of green tea and spearmint. Worth knowing: While nearly every grape varietal is cultivated in California's Russian River Valley, the region’s cool ocean influences particularly favor chardonnay and pinot noir. These conditions prompted former attorney Don Hartford and his wife, Jennifer, to focus primarily on these two varietals when, in 1993, they established Hartford Family Winery near their home in the area. Hartford’s production, as well as winemaker Jeff Mangahas’s talent, is by no means confined to red varietals: The winery’s portfolio of chardonnays also speaks eloquently to the vineyard's incomparable terroir.
