Winemaker's Notes
This wine is our ambassador for Russian River Valley chardonnay and is produced as a blend from select properties neighboring our winery and estate vineyard. The 2005 is opalescent, pale gold in color and fragrant with citrus blossom and lime rind. Abundant, full-bodied flavors of pear juice, ripe apple and toasted almond coat the mouth and frame a wine of considerable finesse that finishes with pleasing minerality. Alcohol 14.6%
Harvest
Harvest Date
October 10 - October 31
Harvest Brix
24.4° – 26.1°
Growing Season
Extended, cool spring weather resulted in late bud break. An ideal, long, temperate growing season followed, allowing for slow, full and even ripening of the fruit. Harvest began later than usual. The resulting wines can be characterized as rich and elegant with gorgeous aromatics.
Winemaking
• Hand-harvested grapes
• Whole cluster, direct to press
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts; 3 months to completion
• Concurrent native malolactic fermentation in barrels; 5 to 7
months to completion
• Aged 11 months in French oak barrels; 55% new; sur-lies aged and stirred biweekly
• Unfined and unfiltered; bottled September 2006
