2016 Drake Estate Vineyard Chardonnay

HOLD
DRINK
2019-2026 OPTIMAL DRINKING WINDOW
Russian River Valley Drake Estate Vineyard
RELEASE PRICE $65 Past Release

Winemakers Notes

This wine has a beautiful nose of Meyer lemon, yellow apple, and spiced pear. Underneath the fruit elements are notes of citrus and fresh melon. The oak is […]

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Technical Notes

TA 0.61g/100mL
pH 3.59
Alc. 13.9%
Barrel Description 24% new, 10% 1 yr., 10% 2 yr., 56% 3 yr.
Barrel Aged 16 months
Technical Notes PDF

Winemakers Notes

This wine has a beautiful nose of Meyer lemon, yellow apple, and spiced pear. Underneath the fruit elements are notes of citrus and fresh melon. The oak is so seamless that it adds a depth without crossing the line. The freshness on the palate is striking with flavors of lemon and spiced pear that transitions into minerals in the middle palate. A hint of quinine on the finish beautifully punctuates this elegant offering.

Harvest Notes

The 2016 vintage was an excellent growing season, and started out as the previous four vintages; with a warm and dry winter. Above average temperatures and modest rainfall in the winter months brought a normal bud break in all growing regions. The main difference in 2016 was cooler temperatures in late February, and increasing rain totals in March that helped slow down vegetative growth. The net result was a slightly longer vegetative cycle, a slower grape maturation cycle, and therefore a later harvest compared to 2015. These events allowed for perfect maturation of the grape tannins and flavor development. Flowering happened under normal conditions with a slight cooling trend in May, which ultimately prevented blockbuster yields. Temperatures after fruit set were normal, but as veraison approached there were a few heat spikes that jumpstarted the ripening process. Harvest started with pleasant weather on August 10 in the Middle Reach Neighborhood vineyards (Westside Road). Weather in late August cooled, and by early September temperatures warmed up and dry conditions prevailed. The result was our core harvest was completed under ideal conditions by end of September. Overall, the wines from the 2016 vintage exhibit wonderfully polished tannins due to long and slow grape maturation on the vine.

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