VINEYARD Bootlegger’s Hill
CLONES Hyde
ORIENTATION North / East
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Goldridge
FERMENTATION 92% barrel, 8% stainless steel
ÉLEVAGE 50% new French oak for 14 months, 18% new Austrian oak for 14 months, prior to bottling 100% stainless steel for 2 months
ALCOHOL 14.2%
pH 3.38
TA 6.58 g/L
AROMA
Golden yellow apple envelops the senses with lively notes of fresh orange zest, honey, and apricots.
PALATE
From the mid-palate to the finish, it has a seductive rich texture with a mesmerizing balance of lychee, hints of caramel, and apple tart. This wine is full of style.
Once an apple orchard within a region used to cart moonshine during Prohibition, the 30-acre Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard sits 750 feet above sea level and the fog line, surrounded by redwood and fir trees. The ranch has six varieties of Pinot Noir clones and features two blocks of Chardonnay planted in the region’s hallmark sandy loam Goldridge soils, derived from an ancient seabed. The Chardonnay lies on the northern edge of the vineyard. This portion gently slopes toward a backdrop of redwoods, collecting cool air, and is the perfect location to grow this variety.
Though vines were first planted on the site in 2009, the bulk of the vineyard was planted the following year. Made exclusively from the famed Hyde clone of Chardonnay, this wine is mesmerizing with a silky texture and impeccable balance. From the mid-palate to the finish, the purity of flavors delight as notes of golden apple, orange zest, and apricot add a dynamic freshness.
Fact of Note: The blend is split between three individual picks from three individual blocks from one clone.
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.
