Chardonnay
The grapes for this Chardonnay come from the McIlroy, Allen and Flax vineyards, all located off Westside Road in the Middle Reach section of the Russian River Valley. This wine was 100% barrel fermented, with 25% of the lot completing additional malolactic fermentation. It was aged on the yeast in Allier and Troncaise French oak barrels for a total of nine months, and was stirred twice each month.
Winemaker’s Notes:
“Early bud break and a very even ripening contribute to this wine’s multilayered varietal characteristics and good acid backbone. We feel that combining the grapes from these three vineyards resulted in one of the most complex and best Chardonnays we’ve ever made. Savor the flavors of crisp Gravenstein apples with a background of cream and vanilla to lift the fruit to center stage. Look for a long-lasting and balanced finish.”
– Winemaker David Georges
Praise: “Finely integrated, the clean, fresh flavors of this Russian River chardonnay meld with the mineral aspects of lees. The mineral lends harmony to the pineapple and citrus pith fruitiness, as clean a cut to the richness of seared scallops as a spritz of lime.”
92 rating, Wine & Spirits, October 2002
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Harvest: September 17 – 24, 2000
Production: 1,538 cases
Vineyards:
36% McIlroy Vineyard
14% Allen Vineyard
50% Flax Vineyard
pH at bottling: 3.31
Total Acidity at bottling: .67
Release date: June 2002
Alcohol by volume: 13.6%
Craig's Comments
92 points, Wine & Spirits -October 2002Highly Recommended, California Grapevine -July 2002