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Wine Details
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Description:
This is a clean, crisp style of Chardonnay softened by a trace of new French oak. Because the wine is partially barrel fermented and aged in barrel four months, the oak finish is subdued, yet refined. The oak aging adds vanillin to the wine, almost giving the perception of sweetness. Partial malolactic fermentation plays counterpoint to the accented finish.
Vivid tropical-fruit flavors of pineapple and citrus are heightened by tones of crisp apple and pear. The palate-cleansing acidity complements a silky, fruit-forward texture which pairs beautifully with salmon, chicken and an assortment of cheeses. Vineyards in Palisade and Paonia are the source of grapes for our 2003 Colorado Chardonnay.
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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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