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Wine Details
Price:
$42.00 per bottle
Description:
While credit for the farming of the remarkable El Novillero ranch goes to the Sangiacomo Family, the visionaries are Dewey Donnell, who founded the property over sixty years ago, and his children, who opted to develop a portion of it to vineyard forty years later. Its location, in the hills at the western limit of the Carneros District appellation, could hardly be better. The grapes enjoy the best of what California can offer Chardonnay -- gravel soil mixed with a high concentration of clay, a south-east facing slope to capture the best part of the day’s sunshine, and cool breezes off nearby San Pablo Bay. The natural acidity level in the fruit is high; since much of it is malic acid, the malo-lactic fermentation is especially vigorous. This produces higher than normal levels of the engaging aromas of butter and cheese, with hints of fresh-baked bread and toast. Writers have called past vintages “A Compelling and powerful effort”, “Stunningly rich and complex”, and “Mouth-filling and satisfying”. Working with grapes of this quality is a fabulous opportunity for a winemaker.
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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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