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Varietal
Chardonnay
Vintage
2016
Russian River Valley
Vintage
2016
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Appellation
Russian River Valley
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Tasting NotesThe Russian River Valley Chardonnay begins with a gorgeous tropical fragrance of papaya and kiwi. The oak influence is subtle, allowing delicate floral notes of gardenia to combine with enticing layers of green melon and Key lime. While this wine has a crisp and delicate entry, the finish is soft and creamy.
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Accolades91 Points, Wine Enthusiast: “A muted nose of toasted oak and brioche leads to an expansive and fleshy midpalate of apple and peach in this moderately structured, medium-bodied and balanced wine. The finish is lingering and vibrantly bright in acidity.” —Virginie Boone, June, 2018
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Wine OriginThe grapes for this wine came from six exceptional vineyards in the Russian River Valley appellation, with each of these beautiful sites bringing something unique and appealing to the blend. The vineyards include the Dutton family’s Jewell and Gamlen ranches in the heart of the cool Green Valley region, Mirabelle and Wohler vineyards off of Wohler Road, the Martinelli family’s Woolsey Ranch, and the Bacigalupi family’s Frost Vineyard.
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Production NotesThe 2016 vintage was a low-production year for Chardonnay. It was also warmer than average. The fruit came in with ripe and concentrated flavors. We harvested the Chardonnay for this wine between mid-August and the end of September. This diversity in terms of harvest dates adds another element of complexity and intrigue to the blend.
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Winemaker NotesAll grapes went direct to press as whole clusters. By pressing gently as whole clusters, we were able to preserve the bright, delicate characteristics that we prize. After settling, the juice was racked into French oak barrels for fermentation to give the wine just a hint of toast and spice. We used just 12% new oak and 12% one-year-old oak (with the remainder being neutral) in order to allow the richness of the fruit to take center stage. Once the primary fermentation was complete, the wine went through a secondary malo-lactic fermentation, which was completed. The barrel-fermented wines were aged on the lees for nine months, with occasional stirring to increase richness and body. The final blend was assembled prior to bottling, which occurred on August 14th, 2017.