Avid Russian River Chardonnay 2021
Avid Russian River Chardonnay 2021
Russian River Valley, California
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Tasting Notes
The 2021 Avid Chardonnay greets the nose with bright, inviting aromas of golden apple, ripe pear, and white peach, layered with subtle floral hints of honeysuckle and a touch of citrus blossom. On the palate, flavors of juicy orchard fruits—pear, apple, and white peach—are complemented by delicate notes of toasted almond and lightly vanilla-kissed oak. Medium-bodied and elegantly structured, the wine shows a creamy texture balanced by lively acidity, leading to a crisp, refreshing finish that highlights its minerality and finesse. The interplay of fruit, oak, and natural acidity gives this Chardonnay a harmonious, layered profile that is both approachable and nuanced.
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Story
Avid (Pars and Acoya) was a project by Hossein Namdar and Robert "Bob" Goyette, who co-founded La Crema Winery and then went to work as an assistant winemaker for Chalk HIll. The partnership has since dissolved, but this was one of the last wines tha pair made from their time as partners and Namdar continued the Avid (Pars and Acoya) labels. From its inception, Avid was built on the vision of three key figures: Hossein Namdar, Alberto Lataliste and Ron Cantrell. Hossein Namdar arrived in California in 1978, studied theology and philosophy at USF in San Francisco, and then moved into viticulture and winemaking, beginning his career at Domaine Chandon (via Moët & Chandon) as a vineyard technician before progressing to the cellar.
Alberto Lataliste, originally from Buenos Aires, built his career in premium‑wine import and sales—co‑founding Gaucho Imports in San Francisco and later taking managerial roles for South American brands in the U.S. wine business.
Ron Cantrell, a Detroit native turned entrepreneur, long‑heartedly pursued his passion for wine and the California wine country; he connected with Namdar to bring the vision of Avid (and its story‑driven wines) into being.
The name Avid (“AVeeD”) reflects this passion: “a woman… she has an obsessive quality for perfection. This not only describes her, but also our wines.”
Under this banner, the founders set out to craft small‑lot, story‑rich expressions from sought‑after appellations in California, marrying fruit‑forward clarity with Burgundian precision. The Avid label eventually came under the Gran‑Vino umbrella, which houses three lines (Acoya, Pars, Avid) representing feelings, places and devotion.
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Somm Notes
Chardonnay is a highly adaptable grape, capable of expressing a wide range of flavors depending on climate, soil, and viticultural practices. It thrives in cooler climates, which allow the grapes to ripen slowly, preserving vibrant natural acidity, delicate aromatics, and nuanced fruit flavors. The Russian River Valley’s combination of morning fog, warm afternoon sun, and well-draining Goldridge loam soils creates near-ideal conditions for this varietal. These factors encourage gradual phenolic ripening, which produces wines with bright citrus, orchard fruit, and subtle floral notes, while maintaining balance and structure.
Compared to Napa Valley, which generally experiences warmer temperatures and more intense sunlight, Russian River Valley Chardonnay tends to be more restrained, focused, and elegant rather than bold and heavily fruit-forward. The cooler climate preserves crisp acidity and highlights the nuanced minerality of the soils, resulting in wines with a lively, layered complexity. This makes Russian River Valley Chardonnay especially versatile for food pairings, complementing dishes ranging from roasted chicken and buttery seafood to creamy pastas and lightly spiced international cuisines. The wine’s balance of richness and freshness, along with its aromatic precision, showcases the distinctive style that has made Russian River Valley a premier California region for world-class Chardonnay. -
Region
Nestled within Sonoma County, the Russian River Valley AVA is a captivating winegrowing region shaped by its unique terroir. Established in 1983, this AVA spans 15,000 vineyard acres and boasts a diverse landscape influenced by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the Russian River. The region's geological history is rich and dynamic, with volcanic ash deposits from nearby eruptions contributing to its renowned Goldridge loam soil. This sandy loam, combined with alluvial deposits from the river, creates a complex mosaic of soils that profoundly impact grape cultivation.