VINEYARD Laguna Valdez
ORIENTATION Northeast / Southwest
TRELLISING Quad cane
SOIL Goldridge
FERMENTATION 80% new horiztonal foudre / 20% puncheon
OAK 100% new French oak for 16 months
ALCOHOL 13.6%
pH 3.27
TA 7.4 g/L
AROMA
Complex. Alpine wildflowers with a spring breeze, fresh basil, and sourdough.
PALATE
Brilliant with a dynamic acidity, rousing tension and structure that lends itself to aging.
Ulises Valdez migrated to the US as a young teenager. His dedication to excellence in the vineyards proved fruitful as he became a highly-skilled grower and eventually established himself as one of the most iconic growers in northern California. For years, we have worked with this special site and feel honored to share a focused representation within this wines series. To craft an uncommonly nuanced and seductive Chardonnay, we fermented the majority of this wine in puncheons and a 600-gallon foudre, which we laid on its side to
increase lees contact. These large-format vessels accentuated the wine’s freshness, minerality and orchard fruit flavors, with the horizontal foudre providing an opulent textural foundation.
Fact of Note: 80% new horizontal foudre to add texture.
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.
