2005
Paul Hobbs Chardonnay, Ulises Valdez Vineyard Russian River Valley
Winemaker's Notes
Our second release of chardonnay from Ulises Valdez Vineyard is a powerful, stylish offering, perfumed with white peach and orange marmalade. It is rich and mouth-filling, with flavors of ripe golden delicious apple and stone fruit. An underlying creaminess and hints of toast and cedar add nuance to this boldly-structured chardonnay. Alcohol 14.9%
Vineyard
Owner/Manager
Ulises Valdez
Vineyard
Ulises Valdez Vineyard
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Clones
Wente, Robert young
Vineyard Age
Planted in 2002
Site
Goldridge, well drained, brown sandy loam soils
Yield
1.9 tons /acre
Harvest
Harvest Date
October 4-6
Harvest Brix
24.7°
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, cold
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts; 2 months to completion
• Concurrent spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels; 7 months to completion
• Aged 15 months in Francois Freres, Seguin Moreau, Alain Fouquet, Sirugue and Cadus French oak barrels; 70% new
• Aged sur lies and stirred biweekly
• Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2007
