This Chardonnay displays glorious energy, with lovely floral aromas, an enticing Key lime pie entry, and lively layers of juicy, ripe fruit. On the palate, a rich, creamy texture balances the bright acidity, while carrying the wine’s classic Russian River Valley stone fruit and citrus flavors to a long, complex finish.
All grapes went direct to press as whole clusters, with gentle pressing to preserve the bright, delicate characteristics we prize. After settling, the juice was racked into French oak barrels for fermentation to give the wine just a hint of toast and spice. We used 23% new oak and 23% one-year-old oak (with the remainder being neutral) to allow the richness of the fruit to take center stage. After primary fermentation, the wine went through secondary malo-lactic fermentation to soften the natural acidity. This barrel-fermented wine was aged on the lees for nine months, with occasional stirring to increase richness. The final blend was assembled just prior to bottling, which occurred on July 25, 2022.
The four vineyards used for this wine were all harvested by hand on different days from September 13 to September 27. This diversity adds another element of complexity and intrigue to the blend. The Shop Block is planted to the Wente selection, which delivers small berries with intriguing floral aromatics. Mirabelle Vineyard planted to Clone 95 offers distinct stone fruit aromas and flavors. The Jewell and Woolsey vineyards were picked last, providing amazing acidity and verve. While yields were down slightly, and ripening occurred in a shorter period of time, the 2021 vintage produced amazing wines with crisp acids and lush, fruit flavors.
The grapes for this wine came from four exceptional vineyards in the famed Russian River Valley appellation, with each of these beautiful sites bringing something unique and appealing to the blend. The vineyards include the Dutton Family’s Shop Block and Jewell vineyards. In addition, fruit from Mirabelle Vineyard and the Martinelli family’s acclaimed Woolsey Vineyard also shine in the blend. Each of these vineyards features a different clone, which further enhances the flavorful mosaic of this exciting wine.
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