2017 Champlin Creek

91 Points: Virginie Boone Wine Enthusiast - April 2020

“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.”

90 Points: Josh Greene Wine & Spirits - October 2019

“Scents of white roses and herbal tea lead into this soft, creamy chardonnay, lasting on pineapple flavors. Notes of sour cream and oregano give the wine some cut. For poached crab cakes.”

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.

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.

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 14%
• cases made:

  122 Cases

• bottling date: 08/13/2018
• aging:

  Aged on the lees for nine-month, 40% new

• fermentation:

  Whole cluster pressed then racked into French oak for primary and malolactic fermentation