B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
The Hartford Family's roots in Sonoma's Russian River Valley are second to none, and they farm some of the Golden State's most prized plots of old-vine Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Their reference-point range runs the gamut from incredible single-vineyard expressions to some of the greatest bang-for-the-buck values in the appellation.
The 2022 Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel captures everything that makes this cuvée a perennial favorite among fans of great California Zin. Blended from six top-tier old-vine sites spread across the Russian River AVA (several of which make up the estate's highly acclaimed, single-vineyard range), the 2022 is everything you're looking for in a classic California Zin. "Both refreshing and rich, with plush tannins and a long, earthy finish," as noted by The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown in her 95-point review, this is a razor-sharp buy in the category.
"A lot of wine for the value," the 2022 Russian River Pinot Noir delivers everything that long-time fans of the estate are looking for. Pure Pinot Noir charm is on full display in vibrant, ripe fruit, silky texture, and, most importantly, superb balance. The winemaking team selects from choice barrels vinified from several sites across Russian River, so they're able to achieve remarkable stylistic consistency in each vintage, all at an easy price that makes this undisputed crowd-pleaser accessible to a broad audience.
Finally, the 2023 Russian River Chardonnay is "a worthy follow-up to the brilliant 2022," displaying classic, richly textured Russian River fruit, vibrant acidic balance, and a luxurious finish that reveals its world-class pedigree. Fans of California Chardonnay may have grown used to overpaying for underwhelming quality, but this sub-$20 beauty is ideally suited to buck that trend. No matter what you're looking for, these new releases from a California standard bearer are sure to please Hartford's legions of fans and make countless new ones, too. |