2004 Allen Vineyard Chardonnay
Winemaker's Notes
A classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay from one of the truly great growers, Joe Rochioli. The aromas of Gravenstein apples, Asian pears, passion fruit, butterscotch and cinnamon only add to the complexity of these flavors in your mouth. Rich and full of classic Allen flavors that finish juicy, fat and complex.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyard
The Allen Chardonnay Vineyard is adjacent to Rochioli Vineyard, approximately six miles southwest of the town of Healdsburg, banking the Russian River. Fog-cooled evenings and moderately warm daytime temperatures make the Russian River Valley region ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
Harvest 2004
A hot spell in March followed by a warm spring influenced an unusually early bloom and budbreak. This precocious start, followed by a growing season of moderate temperatures, resulted in a very early harvest. Although we harvested the grapes two to three weeks earlier than normal, the long season provided ample time for the fruit to reach full maturity and develop extraordinary color and intense flavors. A cooling trend in mid-September offered the Chardonnay additional hang time prior to harvest.
Technical Notes
| Barrel Description: | 29% new, 29% 1-year-old, 6% 2-year-old, 36% 3+ year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 21 months |
| pH: | 3.44 |
| TA: | 0.57g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 14.8% |
| Release Date: | Fall 2006 |
| Release Price: | $48 |