93 Robert Parker - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"Another brilliant white, the light gold-colored 2008 Chardonnay L'Angevin Laughlin Family Vineyard sees a similar upbringing and the result is abundant tropical fruit, honeysuckle, poached pear and mango notes intertwined with a hint of creme brulee. Russian River-like in its exuberance and exoticism, this full-bodied, in-your-face style of Chardonnay can be consumed over the next 2-3 years." 93 points Robert Parker

"Slow to unfold, with subtle, rich layers of honeydew melon, honeysuckle, fig and melon flavors that are medium-bodied. Ends with a supple touch of butterscotch that builds on the palate. Drink now through 2014. 400 cases made. -JL" 90 points Wine Spectator

WINE:
"This represents the best of what the Laughlin Family Vineyard has to offer. The 2009 is one of the most expressive efforts to date. Both bright and rich, aromas of lemon meringue, cinnamon spice, and ripe fig combine with mineral notes of river stone and granite. While it has a creamy entry and great stain on the palate, it nicely maintains the vibrant acidity of a classic Russian River Chardonnay." -Winemaker

VINEYARD:
"Laughlin Vineyard is low-lying - directly on a tributary of the Russian River - and experiences a great deal of cloud cover throughout the growing season. Grown on alluvial soils, these 40-year old vines are trellised with vertical shoot positioning on a bi-lateral cordon. We nurture these vines through cultural practices such as shoot positioning, leaf removal and fruit thinning, to bring the clusters an optimal balance of sun, shade, and air flow which allows them to properly develop and mature. Generally ripening in mid to late September, we receive approximately 2.5 tons to the acre." -Winery

WINERY:
"'It was a spring evening in 2001, when my husband Alan Peirson, myself [Lesley Warner-Peirson], Robbie and Shannon Meyer were enjoying a bottle of wine together when our discussion turned to the future. We had all met at the Peter Michael Winery Estate, where Robbie was the Assistant Winemaker, and Alan and I were the Winery Estate Managers. In classic fashion we came up with the name and logo for our brand, sketching it out on a cocktail napkin. That evening began our adventure together. In the Fall of 2001 we produced our first vintage, 300 cases of Russian River Valley Chardonnay.'"

"Robbie's mother’s family name, was the obvious choice when we selected a name for our endeavor - L'Angevin. The name L'Angevin, could serendipitously be separated into the French words Ange (angel) and Vin (wine), giving us 'angel wine.' The name is in fact derived from the Old French Andegavia referring to the winegrowing region of Anjou, France where Robbie's ancestors originated." -Winery