VINEYARD Bootlegger’s Hill
CLONES Hyde selection of Wente
ORIENTATION North/East
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Goldridge Soil
FERMENTATION Barrel fermented in French oak
for 6 months
OAK 0% oak – aged in concrete egg for 8 months
ALCOHOL 14.1%
pH 3.20
TA 8.0 g/L
AROMA
Hints of honeysuckle, oyster shell, lemon rind, sou é crust, cinnamon and browned campfire marshmallow tease the senses.
PALATE
Great depth and character with superb structure. Complex balance between opulence and lean acidity. A kiss of new oak pleasantly rounds out the nish.
Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard sits in the western hills of the Russian River Valley surrounded by Redwood and Fir trees above the town of Occidental. Planted in 2009 with largely Pinot Noir, there are only two small blocks of Chardonnay here. These selections of the Wente clone from the famous Hyde Vineyard help make this small lot Chardonnay even more special.
The winemaking team seized the opportunity to approach this one a little differently. Native yeast fermentation took place over a slow 6 months in new French oak barrels. After our patience had been stretched to its breaking point, the wine was moved into a concrete egg to be aged over an eight-month period. The contrast and tension between the opulence of oak fermentation and freshness of concrete aging is remarkable. The wine has a richness and decadent fruit quality with a brightness that is on point. The special qualities continue with our bottling choices: finished unfined and unfiltered, available only in magnums.
Fact of Note: Limited to a tiny production of three barrels.
THE RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY IS hallowed ground for lovers of great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Here, the vines are submersed in clockwork fog and daytime temperature swings, which preserve the natural acidity essential to elegant, age-worthy wines. We work with a handful of the most beloved vineyards from this remarkable wine region considered by many to be the heartland of California Pinot Noir.
Within Russian River Valley, in a town tucked away from the main roads, you’ll find a community ranging from writer to artisan. The town of Graton is an area where local winemakers and growers take a respite and enjoy some of the many popular yet under-the-radar restaurants. During harvest, the little town is full of life and bustling.
