2004 Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay
Winemaker's Notes
Tropical fruits, honeycomb, fresh baked apple pie and crème brulée aromas fill your nose. Very fat and rich in the mouth, the flavors of guava, pineapple, white peach and Gravenstein apple come through in the long, crisp finish. The balanced acidity and soft barrel tannins finish long with a lingering sweetness on your palate.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyard
This vineyard site has belonged to the Heintz family for over 100 years. In 1980, it was planted with clone 4 Chardonnay. Located in the Russian River Valley town of Occidental, and sitting at an elevation of 1,000 feet, cool foggy evenings and warm sunny days allow the grapes an extended hang time, producing fruit with high acid levels that give great structure and balance to the wine.
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: | 33% new, 17% 1-year-old, 17% 2-year-old, 33% 3+ year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 19 months |
| pH: | 3.48 |
| TA: | 0.64g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 15.2% |
| Release Date: | Fall 2006 |
| Release Price: | $44 |