Aged to Perfection
Prime drinking: Mid 2022 through 2027
Graceful ageability: 2028+
Winemaking
32 months in barrel (roughly double than most ultra premium Chardonnay) they bottled the utterly gorgeous, unabashedly old school results unfiltered. All this extra time in barrel produced one of their most sumptuous Russian River Chardonnay to date.
Stiling Vineyard
Rued and Sees Blocks: These two Chardonnay blocks sit on a flat middle section of the vineyard, just east and parallel to Vine Hill Road. Slightly eastern exposure moderates the temperature in this otherwise exposed section, leading to harvest dates toward the end of September or early October with brix usually around 22-24 at harvest. Both blocks are similar in aspect and the main difference is clonal, with the Rued tending to be floral, tropical and overtly fruity while the Sees offers more restrained apple and spice character.
Vintage
The 2018 Sonoma County vintage offered moderate weather, cool evening temperatures and a long, even growing season. The weather conditions were ideal and allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly over the course of summer and early fall. This allowed the grapes to gain flavor complexities and ripe tannins, while retaining natural acidity. The vineyards offered grapes of exceptional quality and high yields alike.
Analysis
Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Vineyard: Stiling
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Clones: 96% Rued, 4% Hyde
Aging: 32 months, 60% New French Oak
pH: 3.42 TA: 6.2 g/L
Bottling: June 7, 2021
Release date: Spring 2022
Alcohol: 14.2%
98 Points, Best of Class
Super-Tuscan style blend offering aromas of ripe berries and black fruits, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, raw tobacco, leather, clove, blood orange peel, and roasted walnuts. Rich and generous flavors of briary blackberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and cassis.
Modern, Sexy & Full
Aromas of wild blackberries and blueberries interwoven with enchanting notes of fresh mint, lavender, roasted walnut, savory spices, and a captivating hint of dark chocolate drizzled with fine balsamic. Notes of plum, blueberry and cassis with hints of wild sage, licorice, black pepper, and an elegant touch of fine-grained oak.
Plush & Velvety
Aromas of wild berries are interlaced with nuances of fresh lavender, dark chocolate truffle, baking spices, and cigar box, with generous flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and fresh currants are layered with hints of cocoa, cassis, allspice, and wild sage.