VINEYARD Charles Ranch, El Diablo, Heintz, Keefer Ranch, Laguna Valdez, Ritchie, Rued and Zio Tony
FERMENTATION 79% French Oak / 18% Foudre / 3% Concrete tank
OAK 34% New French Oak for 15 months / 30% Stainless Steel tank for 4 months / 18% Foudre for 9 months / 1% Concrete tank for 15 months / 2% Concrete egg for 14 months
ALCOHOL 13.8%
pH 3.3
TA 7.04 g/L
AROMA
Rose petal and crème brûlée with hints of cantaloupe skin and coconut nibs.
PALATE
An expansive and rich mouthfeel with flavors of pear and notes of peach crisp. Precise and tactile.
The marine influence that follows the Russian River inland from the Pacific coast is a powerful attribute of this region. The fog helps keep nights cool and offers vines a break from daytime temperatures. The famous Chardonnay vineyards that we work with for this wine are from the coolest parts of the Russian River Valley. Here, fruit is allowed to mature gracefully on the vine, which we find offers us more intensely focused flavors and generous natural acidity.
This vintage we continued our pursuit in delivering exceedingly fresh and precise wines by incorporating traditional, and non-traditional French oak foudres into our Chardonnay winemaking. These larger vessels seamlessly weave complexity and purity into one, integrating the gross lees and the wine with slower and patient micro-oxygenation due to thicker oak staves and less wood to wine contact ratio.
Fact of Note: 18% fermented and aged in foudres.
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.
