The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Central Coast

Varietal   Chardonnay

Retail Price   $16.99

ABV   14.5%

Score   3.5 Stars/87 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, golden straw color.

The nose reveals a big and buttery Chardonnay with a generous note of lees harmonizing with ripe peach, lychee, and tropical fruits.

The palate fully concurs with the nose delivering a rich and chewy fruit and brown butter core with flanking notes of tropical fruits, lemon curd, and brioche.

This is a big Chardonnay with fat butter and fruit notes foiled by a bright dose of citrus and firm lees accent.

Cool Factor

The Run Riot brand is all about bold flavors and this is quite evident in their Central Coast Chardonnay.

Value Grade

The marketplace of $15-20 Chardonnay is a heavily trafficked zone. For lovers of massive Chardonnay this will hit the right ratio of pleasure to dollars.

Analysis

Run Riot is a wine brand with a point of view. They aim to make wines that are big and bold, eschewing all notions of subtlety and simply packing as much flavor and texture possible into a single bottle of wine. These wines will either thrill you or you may find that they are not your cup of tea. That's the point. The Run Riot Chardonnay is a massive wine nearly in need of a fork. While this is not my personal cup of tea upon tasting it I instantly thought of friends who will adore this wine. Taste is a very personal thing. Personally, I found much more to love with the Run Riot Pinot. 87 points.

How to Enjoy

Serve well-chilled in a glass after work or on the weekend. It is a great wine with pre-dinner finger foods.