2017 Champlin Creek Chardonnay
Varietal
Chardonnay

Vintage
2017
Champlin Creek

Appellation
Carneros

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$48.00
 
SKU: MR17CCRCHA750FG
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$576.00
/ Case of 12
 

Grown on a windswept hillside in western Carneros, this alluring Chardonnay offers sumptuous flavors of baked apple and pear framed by firm, refreshing acidity. 

  • Tasting Notes
    This wine has a nice layer of oak that complements the alluring baked apple and pear fruit aromas. The orchard fruit notes are echoed on the palate, where they are framed by firm, refreshing acidity that gives the flavors an inviting cooling texture. The finish is long and complex.
  • Accolades
    2017 MacRostie Champlin Creek Chardonnay – 91 Points: Excellent; highly recommended “Rich, round and tropical in nature, this medium-bodied wine is also citrusy in tangerine. Fleshy, full bodied and abundant, it has a long finish of baked apple and nutmeg.”
  • Wine Origin
    The grapes for this Chardonnay came exclusively from Champlin Creek, an exceptional vineyard located on a windswept hillside in western Carneros near Sonoma Town. Champlin Creek features volcanic soils, which means it is rocky and well-drained. The site’s challenging combination of wind and rocky soils yield a wine with complex aromas and firm acidity.
  • Production Notes
    The 2017 growing season started off as a wet one. Record rainfall through April invigorated the vines and bolstered canopies. Moderate-to-warm temperatures followed, allowing the vines to bloom and mature fruit in a balanced and tempered way. We did apply more leafing in our canopy management to counter the invigorating effects of the rain. All of our Chardonnay was picked prior to the devastating wine country fires in early October, so that had no influence. The vines at Champlin Creek are planted on a hillside to clones 17 and 76. The grapes were picked on September 8th, 2017.
  • Winemaker Notes
    All 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 40% new oak to give the wine a rich palate. Once the primary fermentation was complete, the wine went through a secondary malo-lactic fermentation. The barrel-fermented wine was aged on the lees for nine months, with occasional stirring to increase richness and body. The final blend was assembled just prior to bottling, which occurred on August 13th, 2018.