Dec 30, 2022
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Varner
| Owner(s) | Bob Varner, Jim Varner |
| Web site | www.varnerwine.com |
| Link to this site |
Varner Wine Twins Jim and Bob Varner quietly farm a 14-acre vineyard in Portola Valley which was planted in 1980. They helped out during the 1980s at Thomas Fogarty Winery where they learned the business. Since their first wine was released in 1996, Bob has handled the winemaking and Jim directs the sales and marketing. The winery is located on the estate vineyard property.
Varner Wine is located at 648 Menlo Ave., Suite 5, Menlo Park. The wines are sold on the website in half and full case lots. Varner has become more well known for their Chardonnays which are superb. Three separate bottlings come from the estate vineyard and a value priced Foxglove label Chardonnay is sourced from Edna Valley. 650-321-4895.
Articles About Varner
California Chardonnay Tasting (7.25 9/5/2009)
Chardonnays to Admire (9.12 10/1/2012)
In Pursuit of Balance: A Discriminating Goal (9.20 2/26/2013)
Pinot Paradise on Horizon (6.55 3/17/2008)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Chardonnay (11.2 4/18/2017)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Wines (9.32 10/26/2013)
Small Sips of Pinot (8.12 3/11/2010)
Varner Wines (8.5 11/13/2009)
Reviewed Wines
2014 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Amphitheater Block Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
14.1% alc.,
$45.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. The Santa Cruz Mountains seems to be the chosen
region for Chardonnay and this wine shows why. A complex nose offers aromas of lemon curd, honey, yellow
applesauce, spice and steel. Vivacious on the palate with vivid flavors of peach, melon, banana, pineapple,
honey, graham and vanilla cream. The wine seduces rather than attacks the senses with some austerity that is
part of its charm. The clean finish shows persistent aromatic goodness as well. Still fine the following day when
tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.
Score: 93.
Reviewed April 19, 2017
ARTICLE »
2011 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Three Blocks Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $40.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. There is
some herbal and tobacco laced oak at play in this wine which features aromas of
black cherry, spice, forest floor and smoke with mid weight flavors of black
cherry, black raspberry, black currant, pepper and spice. A harmonious wine
with modest tannins and energetic acidity, finishing with a welcome burst of
aromatic cherry goodness. Even better later in the day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle.
Score: 91.
Reviewed October 27, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 Varner Home Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
13.4% alc., $37.
·
Golden straw color in the glass. Brisk aromas of lemon cream, apple and rocky shoreline. Flavors of green
apple and lemon predominate with a crisp lemon-lime fueled finish. Slightly nutty, with a peculiar celery stalk
note. Very smooth on the palate and easy to drink, but leans heavily on acidity. Good.
Reviewed October 2, 2012
ARTICLE »
2008 Varner Three Blocks Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $37.
·
Moderately deep red color in the glass. Aromas of forest floor, berry jam, and oak vanillin. Darker fruits are
featured including blackberries and black currants. Earthy and brooding with fairly firm tannins and the slightest
oak in the background. Silky textured with a very respectable fruit presence on the finish that should benefit
from further bottle aging. Try not to pop the cork for a year or two. Very good.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Hidden Block Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $35. Eight-year-old vines.
·
The nose
is more savory than fruity while the wine is intensely fruity in the mouth.
Very tasty core of raspberry fruit with an underpinning of baking spices
and oak. Very satisfying and persistent on the palate offering a silky
smooth mouth feel and showing perfect integration of alcohol, acid and
tannin indicating age ability. Light on its feet and packed with flavor.
Even more impressive the next day from a previously opened and re-corked
bottle.
Reviewed March 11, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Home Block Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
14.3% alc., $35.
·
Pale yellow color. Attractive aromas of yellow
fruits, lemon custard and nuts. Creamy, yet full of zest and vigor on the palate with
underpinnings of citrus zest, oak and stony minerality. Excellent value.
Reviewed September 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Varner Hidden Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., 400 cases, $39.
The current release.
·
A savory wine marked by attractive aromas of roses and spice with a delicate touch of
oak. The dark stone fruit is well presented with fine, dry tannins and perfect balancing acidity. A thoroughly
enjoyable wine. Very good.
Reviewed November 13, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Hidden Block Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $42.
·
Light strawberry red
in color. Appealing perfume of strawberries, baking spice, herbs and oak. Red Pinot fruits are framed
with deft oak and grassy notes. Light on its feet and downy in texture, the style is straight-forward, elegant
and likeable.
Reviewed March 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2004 Varner Hidden Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.2% alc, $39.
·
A highly nuanced wine showing aromas of ripe fruit,
roses, oak, tobacco and earth. With time in the glass, the medium-weighted
flavors of dark Pinot fruits blossom with supporting hints of spice, edible flowers
and herbs. Drinking perfectly now with supple tannins and an appealing softness
and roundness. Very good.
Reviewed November 13, 2009
ARTICLE »
2014 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Amphitheater Block Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
14.1% alc., $45. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. The Santa Cruz Mountains seems to be the chosen region for Chardonnay and this wine shows why. A complex nose offers aromas of lemon curd, honey, yellow applesauce, spice and steel. Vivacious on the palate with vivid flavors of peach, melon, banana, pineapple, honey, graham and vanilla cream. The wine seduces rather than attacks the senses with some austerity that is part of its charm. The clean finish shows persistent aromatic goodness as well. Still fine the following day when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 93. Reviewed April 19, 2017 ARTICLE »
2011 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Three Blocks Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $40. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. There is some herbal and tobacco laced oak at play in this wine which features aromas of black cherry, spice, forest floor and smoke with mid weight flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, black currant, pepper and spice. A harmonious wine with modest tannins and energetic acidity, finishing with a welcome burst of aromatic cherry goodness. Even better later in the day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 91. Reviewed October 27, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 Varner Home Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
13.4% alc., $37. · Golden straw color in the glass. Brisk aromas of lemon cream, apple and rocky shoreline. Flavors of green apple and lemon predominate with a crisp lemon-lime fueled finish. Slightly nutty, with a peculiar celery stalk note. Very smooth on the palate and easy to drink, but leans heavily on acidity. Good. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »
2008 Varner Three Blocks Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $37. · Moderately deep red color in the glass. Aromas of forest floor, berry jam, and oak vanillin. Darker fruits are featured including blackberries and black currants. Earthy and brooding with fairly firm tannins and the slightest oak in the background. Silky textured with a very respectable fruit presence on the finish that should benefit from further bottle aging. Try not to pop the cork for a year or two. Very good. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Hidden Block Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $35. Eight-year-old vines. · The nose is more savory than fruity while the wine is intensely fruity in the mouth. Very tasty core of raspberry fruit with an underpinning of baking spices and oak. Very satisfying and persistent on the palate offering a silky smooth mouth feel and showing perfect integration of alcohol, acid and tannin indicating age ability. Light on its feet and packed with flavor. Even more impressive the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Reviewed March 11, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Home Block Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
14.3% alc., $35. · Pale yellow color. Attractive aromas of yellow fruits, lemon custard and nuts. Creamy, yet full of zest and vigor on the palate with underpinnings of citrus zest, oak and stony minerality. Excellent value. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Varner Hidden Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., 400 cases, $39. The current release. · A savory wine marked by attractive aromas of roses and spice with a delicate touch of oak. The dark stone fruit is well presented with fine, dry tannins and perfect balancing acidity. A thoroughly enjoyable wine. Very good. Reviewed November 13, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Hidden Block Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $42. · Light strawberry red in color. Appealing perfume of strawberries, baking spice, herbs and oak. Red Pinot fruits are framed with deft oak and grassy notes. Light on its feet and downy in texture, the style is straight-forward, elegant and likeable. Reviewed March 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2004 Varner Hidden Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.2% alc, $39. · A highly nuanced wine showing aromas of ripe fruit, roses, oak, tobacco and earth. With time in the glass, the medium-weighted flavors of dark Pinot fruits blossom with supporting hints of spice, edible flowers and herbs. Drinking perfectly now with supple tannins and an appealing softness and roundness. Very good. Reviewed November 13, 2009 ARTICLE »