Eric Kent
2020 Chardonnay
, Luke's Grove
Russian River Valley

Ripe, roasted apple, pear, pineapple and accented by caramel, clove and vanilla enter onto the nose and palate of this voluptuous wine, which is generous in oak and fruit.  Pear, apple and citrus flavors combine around high-toned, floral aspects.  There's a thread of honeysuckle adds aromatic intrigue that persists through the lengthy finish of creaminess as it goes.  From start to finish this bottling is an absolute pleasure trip.  Immensely delicious and brings a smile with every sip.

We don't really expect everyone to cellar such an irresistible wine, but for those who can, feel confident it will develop and expand over the years.

Prime drinking: Late 2022 through 2028
Graceful ageability: 2030

Winemaking
Now that Stiling Vineyard Chardonnay (the source for this bottling) is completely dry farmed by the Dehlinger family, we continue to see an amping up of concentration and flavor from the raw material provided for Luke’s, already their most popular Chardonnay. Always a standout, the 2020 Luke’s shows even a bit more of its typically buoyant, creamy and luscious character.

Vintage
In 2020 the Sonoma Coast the grape vines woke up early and demanded their normal attention anyway. Work in the vineyards proceeded with smaller crews that practiced social distancing and wore facial coverings. Summer wild fires threatened many vineyards and hard decisions were made not to pick several vineyard blocks. The focus was on producing the highest quality wine.

Analysis
Appellation:  Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Varietal:  100% Chardonnay
Vineyard:  100% Stiling
Clones:  100% Rued
Aging: 14 months, 30% New French Oak
pH:  3.36   TA: 6.2 g/L
Bottling:  May 25, 2022
Release:  Fall 2022
Alcohol: 14.4%

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