VINEYARD Cerise, Anderson Valley AVA
CLONES Wente
ORIENTATION North East/South West
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Bearwallow Complex
FERMENTATION 100% barrel
ÉLEVAGE 52% new French oak for 15 months
ALCOHOL 13.6%
pH 3.39
TA 5.8 g/L
AROMA
Intricate and enticing aromas of lime zest, lemon curd, and dried apricots.
PALATE
Fruit bursts on the palate with fresh lemon, ginger, lychee, a note of green apple, and an intriguing pop of brioche. A long, enchanting finish is punctuated by a crisp minerality.
Established in 1997, Cerise Vineyard features steep, unforgiving hillsides rising from 600 to 1,600 feet and rocky terrain that naturally limits yields. One of Anderson Valley’s premier vineyards, its distinctive wines eloquently combine a thought-provoking wildness with soaring flavors and a soulful palate.
Harvested a few days before our Cerise Vineyard Pinot Noir, this Wente clone Chardonnay came in at perfect ripeness, allowing another year of unfiltered bottling. The result is one of the most textural Chardonnays we make. Complex layers of lemon curd, brioche, green apple, and ginger harmonize with undercurrents of leesy richness, adding depth and refinement to a lingering finish. Incredibly complex.
Fact of Note: Cerise Vineyard Chardonnay was picked just a few days before the Pinot Noir, and came in at perfect ripeness.
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.
