HdV Le Début Chardonnay

“You set my soul alight” - Muse

I have never met a Chardonnay that I didn’t like. Le Début stunner takes the first prize blue ribbon in my books because she set my senses alive.

HdV Le Début (Hyde Vineyard) is a single block project that began in 2010 with no new oak influence to truly deliver the sites character. Aged for 13 months in 80% neutral French oak (founders and barrels) & 20% concrete egg. Unfiltered and unfined, Old world meets new world in the philosophy of the vineyard, winemaking and wine style.

Golden goddess color pours into the glass. Sweet aromas of ripe pineapple, peach, citrus, green fruit perk up the bright floral, delicate oak and mineral accents.

It has a stunning concentration, extremely layered and well integrated with a creamy mouthfeel and electric minerality. The long lasting notes of apple, quince, peach, lemon meringue pie, vanilla, ginger, smoke, honeysuckle, almond cream, straw and smokey minerality. Silky, creamy, classy, beautiful. My new love…

Lobster ravioli or classic roast chicken would be sublime. However it disappeared rather quickly in its own 😉 I was asked many times if I had a second bottle.