VINEYARD Cerise
CLONES Wente
ORIENTATION North East / South West
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Bearwallow Complex
FERMENTATION 74% barrel, 26% foudre
ÉLEVAGE 44% new French oak for 16 months, 9% wood cask for 16 months
ALCOHOL 13.8%
pH 3.49
TA 5.59 g/L
AROMA
Bright, enticing aromatics of white peach, orange blossom, and fresh ginger that intertwine with baking spices and a beautiful minerality.
PALATE
Nuanced, with an intriguing dichotomy of richness and acidity that forms a beautiful tension – it’s a hypnotic Chardonnay.
Anderson Valley has become one of California’s most distinctive wine regions, with Cerise being one of the most preeminent vineyards in the last quarter-century. Rising from 587 to 1,620 feet, its steep, unforgiving terrain results in thought-provoking wines that combine a rustic spirit with stunning energy and opulence. Originally planted with Pinot Noir in 1997, a selection of vines were grafted to Chardonnay in 2013. Grown on a south-west facing slope, this striking expression of Anderson Valley Chardonnay comes from the coolest section of Cerise Vineyard.
The 2019 Cerise Chardonnay came in at perfect ripeness, allowing a completely hands-off approach from press to bottle. This delectable wine displays bright, captivating aromas of white peach, orange blossom, and fresh ginger that intertwine with a radiant minerality. There is an intriguing dichotomy of richness and acidity on the nuanced palate that comingle, creating a beautiful, hypnotic tension.
Fact of Note: The Chardonnay was picked a few days before all the Cerise Pinot Noir.
SIXTY-FIVE MILES NORTH OF OUR winery in Sebastopol, CA, is the critically-acclaimed little-known AVA of Anderson Valley. Over the past quarter-century, this region has emerged as the source for some of California’s most distinctive wines.
The Estate property, the Cerise Vineyard, is our focal point for the valley. We’ve been long-time fans of the region and are thrilled to be winegrowers here ourselves. Perched on the hills above Boonville in Mendocino County, these 26 blocks planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay cascade over elevations running from 587 to 1620 feet. The warm, sunny days and cool, foggy nights and mornings of the area coupled with unforgiving terrain result in thought-provoking wines that combine a rustic spirit with stunning energy and opulence.
