Clearly from the same family as its marginally less-pricey partner below, Pride’s Vintner Select Cuvée Chardonnay is both a tad richer and a bit better balanced of the two wines. It is ripe, fullbodied stuff as is to be expected from its name, and it is infused with plenty of sweet oak, but it does not tip dangerously at the 131 brink of being too much and it keeps deep and defined fruit in its sights every step of the way.

The 2014 Chardonnay Vintner’s Select is fermented and aged nine months in 20% new French oak and goes through partial malolactic to retain a healthy amount of good acidity. Honeyed pears, caramelized citrus, apple blossom and white peach notes jump from the glass of this wine, which is medium to full-bodied and beautifully creafted. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
- Robert M. Parker, Jr. (October, 2016)