2009 Drake Estate Vineyard Chardonnay

HOLD
DRINK
2012-2019 OPTIMAL DRINKING WINDOW
Russian River Valley Drake Estate Vineyard
RELEASE PRICE $60 Past Release

Winemakers Notes

The aromas of tropical fruits, Kaffir limes, Pink Lady apples and roasted marshmallows fill the glass. The heavy and affluent flavors of passion fruit and lime marmalade are […]

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Technical Notes

TA 0.64g/100mL
pH 3.45
Alc. 14.4%
Barrel Description 25% new, 15% 1 yr., 25% 2 yr., 35% 3+ yr.
Barrel Aged 16 months
Technical Notes PDF

Winemakers Notes

The aromas of tropical fruits, Kaffir limes, Pink Lady apples and roasted marshmallows fill the glass. The heavy and affluent flavors of passion fruit and lime marmalade are accentuated by the sweet toasty oak. The evenhanded acidity helps a nice mineral/citrus quality shine through in the finish. A weighty wine with lots of ageing potential.

Harvest Notes

2009 produced magnificent wines, to rival those of 2007, expressing the individuality of the sites on which they were grown with intense flavors and perfumed aromas. Following the hardships of the 2008 growing season, late winter and spring of 2009 were unseasonably warm with little precipitation. Bud break occurred early March and unlike 2008, frost was not a problem. Berry set was even, benefitting from ideal daytime temperatures around 70F-75F, despite early May rains. Some bunch-stem necrosis was evident on our vineyards, resulting in loss of yields. The summer months were characterized by cooler than average weather, aided by morning fog, with very few heat spikes during the fruit ripening stage of the vine growth cycle. This resulted in intense flavor and aroma development, good acidity and phenolic development in tune with sugar accumulation. Warmer weather in late August ensured optimal ripeness culminating in harvest commencing in earnest by the Labor Day weekend. A warm September ensured that all Pinot Noir (Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Central Coast), Zinfandel and Chardonnay were picked before the mid-October rains that played havoc with later ripening varieties. Moderate yields delivered wines of exceptional color, flavors, and aromas with balanced acidity and tannins. As in 2007, the wines convey their unique characters in a vivid, precise and evocative manner. The 2009 vintage is one of the finest I have experienced in my 31 vintages at a commercial winery.

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