Gail and Warren Dutton purchased their first 35 acres west of the town of Graton in 1964. Today, this has become a sixth generation family of grape growers and winemakers. With 1,200 acres, the Dutton’s established their roots in farming agriculture. Warren Dutton, a former apple grower, was embraced as one of the most respected grape growers in the Russian River Valley. Joe Dutton, Warren's son, is co-owner of Dutton Ranch sourcing blue-chip fruit bearing the Dutton name to 80 clients throughout California. Joe and Tracy Dutton spearhead the Dutton Estate vision.

This single vineyard bottling of Chardonnay honors the achievements of Warren Dutton and his commitment to the land. The fruit is sourced from the Shop Block vineyard and is the oldest planting on the estate, dating back to 1967. Concrete egg and barrel fermentation are used to accentuate the richness and balanced flavors of this wine. This old-vine Warren’s Collection Chardonnay remains one of my favorites from the Russian River Valley. Medium-straw in color this Chardonnay glistens in the glass with a fresh floral bouquet of field flowers and jasmine that fill the room. The core reveals lemon curd, nectarine, marzipan and a touch of salinity in the background. This wine has great concentration with layers upon layers of fruit that all come together into a fresh and balanced finish which remains long and memorable. Congrats to the Dutton family in creating this legacy to Warren.

By W Peter Hoyne