Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. Chardonnay is a French vinifera grape that originated in the Burgundy region of France. It is grown in many regions of the old world and new world.
Our Chardonnay block is located at Woodfield vineyards.
We cold ferment the juice in SS tanks which produces a wine that is fresh and acidic on the palate then put the wine in new and used French oak barrels to age for about six months.
Six months in oak keeps the wine lightly oaked. Using French oak barrels extracts flavors slowly and deliberately into the wine due to the tight grained nature of the French oak species.
The barreled wine is stirred every 2 weeks so the fine solids (a mixture of grape and yeast solids) that drop to the bottom of the barrels are integrated back into the wine creating additional flavors and aromas of nut, bread and yeast and shaping the mouthfeel of the wine.
Acidity is maintained in the wine by retaining the natural malic acid in a portion of the barreled wine. Malic acid causes the bright tartness in fruits such as apples. However, this acid can be transformed into lactic acid with the introduction of a common bacterium (now cultivated in lab). Malic acid is transformed into the softer creamy and sometimes buttery lactic acid. We inoculate the remaining barrels with this bacterium allowing malolactic fermentation to occur. Small amounts of carbon dioxide are also produced and this process is sometimes called a “secondary fermentation”.
When tasting this well-integrated wine, you are first captured by the nutty notes which lead to bright fruity aromas of apples, guava, and fresh melon. The palate has a mellow thread of toasty oak, soft melon flavors and baked apple with a creamed-spice finish.
The wine pairs well with truffle cheese, cream sauces, salmon and chicken.
Should be served at slightly cooler than room temperature at 60-65 degrees. It has about 13.5% alcohol.
