Neely
Brothers Bob and Jim Varner are two of the most unassuming, humble winemakers in California. They don't need to say much. The wines take care of that themselves. These are some of the most beautiful, striking Chardonnays and Pinots readers will come across. Best of all, prices remain exceedingly fair by California standards considering the quality of what goes into the bottle. The 2011 Chardonnays are intensely mineral and have plenty of Santa Cruz Mountains structure. They are the product of a cold year in which temperatures never climbed in to the 90s. The 2010 Pinots are also outstanding. Leaf pulling is not a common practice here, so the fruit was not excessively exposed to the late season heat spikes. The Varner and Neely Pinots are fermented in steel, an unusual practice that probably explains why the wines retain so much freshness. After two months in steel, the wines spent a year in barrel followed by a year in bottle prior to being released. Like all Varner/Neely wines, the Pinots are made with indigenous yeasts and handled minimally throughout their elevage. As a reminder, the Varners make wines under three labels; Varner, Neely and Foxglove, all reviewed separately here.
From Santa Cruz Mountains: California’s Best Kept Secret (Jul 2013) by Antonio Galloni
2011 Chardonnay Holly's Cuvee
Release Price: $45
Color: White
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2010 Pinot Noir Hidden Block
Release Price: $42
Color: Red
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2010 Pinot Noir Upper Picnic
Release Price: $42
Color: Red
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2010 Pinot Noir Picnic Block
Release Price: $42
Color: Red
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