Hyde de Villaine is the long running partnership between two legends: Aubert de Villaine, co-director of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, and Larry Hyde of Hyde Vineyards in Carneros.
If California had Grand Cru vineyards in California, Hyde in Carneros would surely be one of them for Chardonnay. An iconic vineyard that has supplied fruit to the likes of Aubert, Kistler, Ramey and Paul Hobbs to name just a few; not to mention the Hyde Estate and HdV.
The Hyde Vineyard has consistently yielded some of the finest Chardonnays in California’s history. These are wines that stand the test of time. Wines of texture and opulence that are balanced with freshness, energy and refinement, sharing characteristics that make the greatest white Burgundies so revered. The 2017 vintage of HdV Chardonnay is one of the most impressive wines yet from this amazing partnership. While this wine has never been bestowed a perfect score, those in the know - know that this is one of the most Burgundian Chardonnay made in northern California today. Here the texture and depth of HdV Chardonnay is akin to the impact and opulence that DRC achieves in their rare white wines. However, perhaps it is the refinement that is present in the HdV wines that holds it back from the super big scores that the hedonistic Auberts of California achieve. No matter what, the 2017 HdV is without question one of their finest wines to date. This is the first vintage where we have seen the Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Vinous and James Suckling all rave about this wine. If the four biggest wine critics in the world agree, then the pedigree and quality of the wine is clearly speaking for itself.
Unlike white Grand Crus of Burgundy, whose wines are often the subject of investment and speculation and whose rarity drives up prices, Aubert and Larry have in HdV produced a wine that is relatively affordable compared to Grand Cru Burgundy and a wine that is poised to deliver the goods for years to come. Aubert de Villaine is the elder statesman of Burgundy and one of the most articulate leaders of the region. For Aubert and DRC, the wines are meant to be enjoyed, they are not baseball cards. The same approach is the core philosophy that HdV is founded on, and frankly the key benefit that we can all be rewarded with when opening a bottle of HdV Chardonnay.
Cheers,
Jeremy |
