Sourced from the original 1969 planting of the Rued clone of Chardonnay, which is known for its somewhat tropical aromatics - some even refer to it as the Muscat clone of Chardonnay.
Delicious for any occasion, or perfect for aging in your cellar. Enjoy with herb-crusted pork ribs, grilled chicken Caesar salad, poached salmon and more.
WINEMAKER
Since 1988 Heidi Peterson Barrett has had an impressive client list of ultra-premium wineries to her name, over 2 dozen in total. Past winemaking clients include Screaming Eagle (14 years, 1992 and 1997 vintages garnered another set of perfect 100’s from Parker. And a 6-liter bottle of the '92 Screaming Eagle set a world record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine $500,000 at the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction.)
Other projects include Dalla Valle (8 years), Jones Family (12 years), Grace Family (6 years), Vineyard 29 (6 years), David Arthur, Barbour Vineyards (15 years), Revana (10 years), Showket (12 years), Kenzo Estate (20 years), Paradigm (32 years), and Lamborn (25 years).
VINTAGE
In 2020 the Russian River Valley vineyards awoke from winter dormancy in mid-to-late March, and bud break happened right on time. The vines enjoyed a warm, sunny spring, with no real threat of frost. While some light rainfall interrupted flowering, reducing the chardonnay crop, fruit set was even. A warm summer brought only two significant heat spikes, and the vines produced healthy and balanced fruit.
APPELLATION: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
VARIETAL: 100% Chardonnay
HARVEST DATES: September 8, 2020
AGING: SS drums and French oak barrels 10% new for 9 months
BOTTLING DATE: June 21, 2021
RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2022
TA: 6.7 g/L
pH: 3.2
ALCOHOL: 13.2%
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
96 Point Vintage
Entices with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
94 Points
Opulent dark fruited with blackberry and ironstone mineral character, blue fruit notes, and violets with crushed cocoa nibs nuances and a long dark chocolate and mineral-scented finish. Ultra delicious and quite lengthy.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
94 Points
Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of fresh black currants, kirsch, and mulberries... Full-bodied, the palate delivers a firm line of grainy tannins with bold freshness to frame the muscular black fruit, finishing long and cedary.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
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