2018 Kent Ritchie Vineyard

Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

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About this Wine

This prized site in the Russian River Valley has been farmed for more than 40 years by renowned winegrower Kent Ritchie. The vineyard is planted to the Wente Selection of Chardonnay, known for enticing tropical notes. A mere 16 barrels were made of this wine. Add it to your collection before it’s gone.

Library Selection

92 Points

“From a site in the Russian River and aged in 25% new French oak, the 2018 Chardonnay Kent Ritchie offers lots of toasty and spicy notes as well as orchard fruits, medium body, a pure, clean, soft style, good acidity, and a clean finish. It's another impeccably made Chardonnay that delivers the goods.”

Jeb Dunnuck

jebdunnuck.com, May 2020

Tasting Notes

Accolades

Winemaking

Vintage

Vineyard

Tech. Notes

additional notes

Tasting Notes

Accolades

92 Points: Jeb Dunnuck jebdunnuck.com - May 2020

91 Points: Josh Greene Wine & Spirits - October 2020

“All about generosity, from vanilla cream to savory pastry notes, this is round and luscious, lasting on toasted almond and apricot scents. It’s a classical Russian River chardonnay to pour at brunch with poached salmon.”

Winemaking

The 2018 growing season began with warm winter weather, before things turned cool and rainy in February, which prevented an early budbreak. While the rains continued, things warmed up again in March, providing ideal nutrients and growing conditions for the vines. From June onwards the weather was lovely and temperate, with sunny days and cool nights ensuring excellent flavor development and acid retention in the grapes. As harvest drew near, the weather turned warm providing a final push to ripeness. The grapes from this vineyard were picked on September 5, 2018.

Vintage

In order to maximize quality, while providing a distinct mouthfeel and texture, the harvested grapes went directly to press as whole clusters and were gently pressed. After settling, the juice was racked into French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine spent its entire life in barrel, where it completed primary and a partial secondary malolactic fermentation, which preserved its natural acidity. The wine was then aged on the lees for 11 months. In order to increase richness and body, it was occasionally stirred. A generous 25% new French oak, and 25% once-filled French oak barrels were used in order to broaden the mouthfeel and balance the acid. This Chardonnay was bottled on August 6, 2019.

Vineyard

This prized site in the Russian River Valley has been farmed for more than 40 years by renowned winegrower Kent Ritchie. The vineyard is planted to the Wente Selection of Chardonnay, which grows on gently rolling hillsides in sandy loam soils with striations of sandstone. The Russian River Valley’s famous clockwork fog keeps this site cool, and provides ideal conditions for growing a classic expression of Chardonnay.

Technical Notes

composition:
100% Chardonnay
alcohol: 14.5%
cases made:
16 barrels
377cases
aging:
Aged 11 months sur lie in French oak, 25% new, 25% once-filled
fermentation:
Whole cluster pressed then racked to French oak for primary and malolactic fermentation

additional notes