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Wine Details
Price:
Description:
Over the years we have come to realize that the Draper clone, planted at Abbey Ridge in 1976, produces the superior fruit from the Chardonnay section of the vineyard. In 2002 this was especially true so we have chosen to blend only the three measly but wonderful barrels that we gleaned from this vintage. With a long hang time the sugars were uncharacteristically high even though there was plenty of acidity. This produced respectable alcohol levels to give the wine great mouth feel. The classic Burgundian aging technique (leaving the wine on its sediment for nearly 2 years) contributes an additional layer of yeastiness.
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Varietal Definition
Chardonnay:
Chardonnay is by far the most widely planted grape crop in California and dominates California’s cooler, coastal, quality wine regions. The natural varietal ‘taste and smell’ of Chardonnay is surprisingly unfamiliar to many wine drinkers, as its true character is often guised with dominating winemaking signatures. Chardonnay’s rather subdued primary fruit characteristics lean toward the crisp fruitiness of apples, pears and lemon, but the variety’s full body is capable of supporting a host of complementary characteristics, such as oak, butter and vanilla. Regardless of what is the appropriate style for Chardonnay, the varietal continues to dominate vineyard plantings in every corner of the world. Close attention to clonal selection has made this broad geographic and climactic range of Chardonnay viable in thoughtful viticultural hands.
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