2004 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Winemaker's Notes
The perfume of caramel apples, Asian pears, honeysuckle and tangerine zest resonates in the aromas of this blend. Rich and lush flavors of Gravenstein apples, pears, minerals, crème caramel, spice and roasted almonds linger on the palate. Pleasant acids accentuate the exotic fruit characters that become affluent and creamy in your mouth. The silky fruit concentration finishes with a mineral quality.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyards
The 2004 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from two Russian River Valley vineyards: Estate Drake Vineyard and Heintz Vineyard.
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: | 38% new, 13% 1-year-old, 44% 2-year-old, 5% 3-year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 16 months |
| pH: | 3.45 |
| TA: | 0.58g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 14.9% |
| Release Date: | Spring 2006 |
| Release Price: | $35 |