The score for 2017 DuMOL Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros is 95 from Robert Parker and the tasting note - The 2017 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard was barrel fermented and aged 12 months in 25% new oak. It offers intense aromas of guava, honeycomb and beeswax with quince paste, apple pie, nutmeg, clove and warm yellow peaches with notes of hay, crushed stone and oodles of chamomile character. Medium-bodied and wonderfully savory/toasty in the mouth, it offers great intensity, juicy acidity and a long, honey-nut finish. 550 cases produced. Winemaker Andy Smith has been with Dumol for over 20 years. The brand has steadily grown from just a few hundred cases and now makes 16,000 to 18,000 cases a year. They are slowly tapering the purchase of grapes and are focusing on estate or leased vineyards (the word “Dumol” on the foil indicates that the wine comes from an estate vineyard). After a replanting scheme from 1997-2007, all the estate vines are between 12 and 60 years old. Chardonnays are crafted using full malolactic but without lees stirring. “We are looking for focus, length and clarity as opposed to broad, softly textured wines,” Smith says. They are barrel fermented, aged in about 30% new oak and finished in stainless steel before bottling. Pinot Noirs see about 35% to 45% new oak, while Syrah gets 25% and Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in 50% new oak. Not much whole cluster is used.