Hartford Court Russian River Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

By Al Spoler,

Published March 7, 2019 at 10:10 AM EST

Sonoma's Russian River Valley is home to some of the best chardonnays and pinot noirs in California. Hartford Family Winery does it as well as anybody. Click the link to purchase Cellar Notes recommendations at Kenilworth Wine & Spirits.

The Wines

Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60

Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite

VALUE = exceptional quality for the money

Hartford Court Chardonnay, Russian River Valley '17 *** $$

Elegant, crisp, lightly floral, with pear and apple flavors, great dinner wine

Hartford Court Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley '16 *** $$$

Spectacular, well structured, complex with very long finish

Hartford Court Pinot Noir, "Land's Edge" '15 ***1/2 $$$

Stunning, extremely high quality, layers of flavors, balance and finesse

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Al Spoler

Al Spoler, well known to WYPR listeners as the wine-loving co-host of "Cellar Notes" has had a long-standing parallel interest in cooking as well. Al has said, the moment he started getting serious about Sunday night dinners was the same moment he started getting serious about wine. Over the years, he has benefited greatly from being a member of the Cork and Fork Society of Baltimore, a gentlemen's dining club that serves black tie meals cooked by the members themselves who are some of Baltimore's most accomplished amateur cooks.

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Hugh Sisson

As General Partner of Clipper City Brewing Company, L.P., Hugh J. Sisson is among Baltimore's premier authorities on craft brewing and a former manager of the state's first pub brewery, Sissons, located in Federal Hill. A fifth generation Baltimorean, Hugh has been involved in all aspects of craft brewing.

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