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Wine Details
Price:
$65.00 per bottle
Description:
This 2004 Estate Chardonnay displays the distinctive qualities of our Rutherford vineyard: rich, fully ripe fruit aromas with elegance and balance. This year’s growing season saw an early warming trend in March and April, accelerating the ripening process. During our late-September harvest, the grapes were picked in the cool early morning to maintain their freshness, natural acidity, and delicacy. The grapes were hand sorted, then gently lowered into the press by hand and whole cluster pressed. Long, cool fermentation in French oak barrels enabled us to fully bring out the fruit’s character. On the nose, aromas of ripe pear, honeysuckle and ripe banana dominate, marrying well with a creamy, toasty oak character. The palate explodes with flint flavors from our French clones, baked apple, lime and citrus, followed by nutmeg and vanilla from the oak. Six distinct clones add depth and complexity to the finish, and aging sur-lie and stirring of the yeast produce richness and balance. The fruit character is preserved by inhibiting malo-lactic fermentation, maintaining the natural acid balance. This wonderfully crafted Chardonnay could be enjoyed now or aged for an additional 3-5 years. Bon Appetit!
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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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