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Wine Details
Price:
$20.00 per bottle
Description:
This is a single vineyard Chardonnay from the lower field of our Home Ranch which abuts a tributary of the Russian River. It was harvested on September 9 after the earliest bud break in our thirty-five years in Alexander Valley and a long, cool summer resulting in high acid and low pH for all grapes. It was tank fermented, left on the lees for nine months in 85% stainless steel and 15% neutral French oak barrels, then bottled in May of 2006. This is not a heavy, oaky, creamy Chardonnay. It is delicate. It is refreshing. What oak it was given is meant merely to complement the fresh, clean aroma of citrus, particularly grapefruit. It has no residual sugar, underwent no malolactic fermentation, and has noticeable, sprightly acidity.
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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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