Wente, Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco

Wente · California › Arroyo Seco › United States of America

White · Chardonnay
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
87 /100
Reviews
54
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

61
61
Reviews
87.2
Avg Score
92
Highest
Taster #4472 · Apr 8, 2018
Too oaky
2012 vintage
Taster #2312 · May 17, 2016
91/100
Excellent buttery oaky wine. One of the best in its price range. Love it! The wine looks light gold colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like oak. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
2012 vintage
Taster #2312 · Jan 20, 2016
92/100
Fine Wente, highly recommended
2012 vintage
Taster #2659 · Dec 2, 2015
The wine looks yellow gold colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like apple, pear and peach blossom. It tastes like lychee, pear, apple, melon, vanilla and honeysuckle. The body is medium. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium plus acidity. Balance describes this wine as it contains many facets across the nose and palate yet nothing overwhelms the enjoyment.
2012 vintage
Taster #3317 · Nov 27, 2014
89/100
Balanced and smooth Chardonnay with a buttery finish. Some oak notes but nicely integrated and not overdone or distracting. Paired well with Thanksgiving dinner.
2012 vintage
Taster #7731 · Nov 20, 2014
85/100
Maybe my palate has evolved, but all I could taste or smell was oak, and it seemed to be artificial oak at that. A few years ago I seemed to like oakey Chards but I guess not now. I saved the bottle and will try a second taste to see if it was just the day.
2012 vintage
Taster #5136 · Oct 24, 2014
87/100
Still quite drinkable but a little bit "Werther's Original" -- a butterscotch bomb.
2008 vintage
Taster #7577 · Oct 8, 2014
88/100
Pleasant everyday Chard. Nice flavor. Balanced and not overly oak-y. Good mouthfeel. Will wait a bit before having more. Seems to be getting better.....a good thing!
2012 vintage
Taster #6301 · Sep 12, 2014
91/100
Aroma is very ripe peach, color lite stray. Buttery... Buttery. .......... Buttery! Smooth finish, a little hint of lemon at the very end of a long finish. As it opens, a little spice. Buttery! Will buy more
2012 vintage
Taster #1520 · Jul 29, 2014
88/100
This bottle measured up to initial experience. Smooth with medium oak and buttery finish.
2008 vintage
Taster #6327 · Jul 24, 2014
91/100
My second bottle of this and I think I like it better than the first. Butter!
2012 vintage
Taster #7577 · Jul 20, 2014
87/100
Pleasant Chardonnay, without having too much oak. Very drinkable.
2012 vintage
Taster #1563 · Jun 26, 2014
88/100
straw color, pineapple/pear nose, repeated in flavors with butter, toasted spice and acid on finish which was early and quick.
2012 vintage
Taster #9438 · Jun 21, 2014
89/100
Just got a taste of this before the bottle was drained. Consistent with previous note about a year ago. Nice QPR.
2012 vintage
Taster #4556 · Jun 13, 2014
79/100
This bottle had some unpleasant vegetableness.
2012 vintage
Taster #8125 · Jun 8, 2014
82/100
Light-medium yellow-gold. OK legs. A tad thin. Light banana/taffy nose. On the sweet side. Chaptalized? Uninspiring palate, not harmonious. A bit oaky. Standard quality. 4-10-12-6: 82/100.
2012 vintage
Taster #4556 · May 5, 2014
85/100
Not as good as prior years. Not as fresh tasting.
2012 vintage
Taster #1520 · Mar 30, 2014
84/100
Not as impressed as with earlier bottles
2008 vintage
Taster #1049 · Mar 13, 2014
81/100
Pretty uninspiring
2009 vintage
Taster #6327 · Mar 2, 2014
88/100
This was recommended to me as a style of chard that would appeal to my wife. I can see why they call it a "baby Rombauer". I guess that would make this "cub crack" if R is called "cougar crack?" Nevertheless this is quite delicious. Thick and viscous with loads of butter. Yum. Will be again
2012 vintage
Taster #4556 · Feb 23, 2014
85/100
One of the few above-average oaked Chardonnays left on the retail shelf.
2012 vintage
Taster #8276 · Feb 14, 2014
88/100
This is a solid every day chardonnay. a little oaky, but not overly. a little on the sweet side, I prefer a dryer chardonnay, but it's wine, right? it's all good.
2012 vintage
Taster #5264 · Jan 25, 2014
89/100
Had been a solid fan of ...https://www.cellartracker.com/classic/wine.asp?iWine=1632041 for 2011 but 2012 disappoints ... this one takes over ... nice QRP and the touch in minerality ( licking rocks )
2012 vintage
Taster #9985 · Nov 24, 2013
89/100
Ripe, round Chardonnay with enough oak to suggest California, but enough minerality to give hints of Burgundy. Not a rock star wine, but a solid value at around $16. All the tropical fruits are here, although a bit muted.
2012 vintage
Taster #8860 · Sep 26, 2013
Very buttery.
2012 vintage
Taster #5714 · Sep 22, 2013
90/100
Philips bday party
2012 vintage
Taster #9438 · Jul 13, 2013
89/100
Light gold color. PNP, drank 1+ glass over an hour. Nose shows apples, tropical fruit, mild white blossoms. The palate is light-medium bodied, citrus, apple, melon, nice acid, modest oak, round with a medium finish. Well balanced and a good QPR.
2012 vintage
Taster #1520 · Mar 1, 2013
86/100
Nice buttery first impression with solid oak tannins. A smoother finish would lead to higher rating.
2008 vintage
Taster #6226 · Dec 14, 2012
2010
2009 vintage
Taster #1520 · Jul 5, 2012
88/100
Nice oak with moderate butter finish. My kind of Chard.
2008 vintage
Taster #8728 · Jun 27, 2012
86/100
I
2009 vintage
Taster #3578 · Jun 6, 2012
90/100
Love the fruit and butter on this. One of my favs so I bought a case.
2009 vintage
Taster #2830 · Apr 9, 2012
91/100
The perfect blend of tropical fruit and acidity with smooth creamy oak on the finish. Also an interesting component of banana in there. Neither component dominates the wine which made this one of my favorite chardonnays I have had. Drank it with scallops over risotto and the pairing was perfect.
2009 vintage
Taster #6510 · Mar 13, 2012
87/100
Very nice - good fruit and well balanced. Nice acidity for a chardonnay. Not too much oak.
2009 vintage
Taster #1901 · Mar 3, 2012
89/100
My first observation is the wine is not clear; there are minute particles suspended inside. Pale in color. Lemon nose. Nice attach with creamy with butterscotch/vanilla notes. Decent finish a hint of oakiness. Overall, not a bad chardonnay given the price point.
2009 vintage
Taster #8746 · Mar 3, 2012
88/100
Refreshing, citrusy chardonnay with buttery undertones. Mouthfeel is pleasant and balanced. A favourite chard from Wente. Paired with maple roast turkey breast and mushroom pan gravy.
2009 vintage
Taster #5496 · Dec 14, 2011
87/100
An aroma of pear and butter with an oaky flavor. The wine was pleasant, yet lacking in complexity and depth. The finish was short. Overall a decent QPR for a slightly buttery chard.
2009 vintage
Taster #4556 · Nov 12, 2011
85/100
Banana, butter, and tropic fruit. Price point s/b $12-$13
2009 vintage
Taster #2909 · Sep 19, 2011
85/100
- Yellow color and aromas of apple. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of apple, oak and diacetyl (butter) with a medium body. Narrow texture with a short finish - Always enjoyed the Riva, buttery Cali Chard with a hint of oak
2009 vintage
Taster #8386 · Aug 29, 2011
Cata Vino/ Tasting wine Hotel El Convento (San Juan de Puerto Rico) : Pretty simple Very obvious Chardo on the nose: Lemon bark but little artificial Better on the palate, gliceric and with some weight but acidic when finishing Bastante simple. Chardo muy obvia en nariz Corteza de limón pero un poco artificial Mejor en boca, glicérico y con algo de peso pero acido al finalizar.
2009 vintage
Taster #4556 · Aug 2, 2011
85/100
QPR is off. Too expensive
2009 vintage
Taster #5214 · Jul 18, 2011
89/100
tasted at an AIWF event. Well received. Classic California Chardonnay with mild oak.
2009 vintage
Taster #4556 · Jun 5, 2011
87/100
Good Chard with slight oak
2009 vintage
Taster #9457 · May 27, 2011
89/100
Love it!
2008 vintage
Taster #5534 · May 22, 2011
74/100
Wow...disjointed mess...barely drinkable
2009 vintage
Taster #9457 · May 8, 2011
88/100
We enjoy this slightly crisp style Chardonnay that still presents some roundness without being oily. Goes well with a variety of foods as well as sipping on its own The wine looks Blonde colored. The legs are Medium. It tastes like Dill, Carnation, Honey, and Grapefruit. The body is Light/Medium. The wine is textured Bright. The wine finishes Medium.
2008 vintage
Taster #1743 · Apr 30, 2011
Really enjoyed it. Buttery smooth
2008 vintage
Taster #2298 · Mar 27, 2011
89/100
This went extremely well with the baked salmon with a mayo dill sauce. There a hint of dill in the wine that came out more with the food. There's just enough oak to give it some weight in the mouth. We're not chard people, but we liked this one.
2008 vintage
Taster #8620 · Mar 3, 2011
90/100
Solid fruit/oak balance. Stands up to assertive seafood dishes. Great value.
2008 vintage
Taster #4556 · Feb 11, 2011
89/100
Beautiful. Bring it on!
2008 vintage