2015 Kent Ritchie Vineyard 'Single Barrel'

In the world of California winegrowing, Kent Ritchie Vineyard is rightfully famous, and widely recognized as one of the state’s great Chardonnay vineyards. Located in the cool heart of the Russian River Valley, on a hillside along Eastside Road, the site was originally planted in 1972 to an array of heritage clones and selections, including the Wente selection. Decades later, these old vines yield some of California’s most highly prized Chardonnay. This wine was made exclusively from Wente selection grapes grown in sandy loam and sandstone soils. To accentuate the wine’s beautiful mouthfeel, while also underscoring its lovely fruit, Heidi aged it in her favorite Rousseau Allegro toast barrel for 10 months. With inviting lemon-sage aromas and elegant acidity, it is a vivid and alluring wine that strikes an effortless balance between its crisp citrus flavors and the creamy richness derived from barrel fermentation and aging in the finest French oak.