1997 Chardonnay - Sonoma Coast
Tasting Notes
The 1997 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is an expression of terroir - the sum of soil, sunlight, cool days and nights, the season's fluctuations, the yeast, ML and barrel, and the touch of the people who work with the grapes and wine. Aromas are complex, showing a broad spectrum of flavors from hints of florality to animale, bacon fat and forest floor. The foundation is the mineral/crushed stone and limes notes of our own Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard, with a long, tight finish. Moderate use of new oak, primarily sourced from the Allier forest of France by several coopers, gives the fruit and sur lies expression a spicy frame in which to be showcased. We consider this wine to be best enjoyed soon after release, but it has the acidity and structure to be enjoyed for several years to come. We hope you enjoy consuming this wine as much as we enjoyed crafting it.
Facts
- Blend of 60% Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard and 3 other cool-climate vineyards in Western Sonoma County
- Mixture of native yeast & malolactic fermentations & selected Montrachet and Bourgogne blanc isolates
- 35% New oak. Total time in barrel: 8 months in a broad selection of coopers, including François Freres, Damy, Marsannay, Cadus, Frimy, D&J and Latour
- Harvest: September 9th to October 20th, 1997
- Bottled in July 1998; 1000 cases produced
Clone locations/component descriptions
| Vineyard | Location/Clone | Component Description |
|---|---|---|
| Camp Meeting Ridge | Block 5/Dijon 76 (Burgundy clone) | Leaning towards tropical fruit for a CMR wine; hazelnut aroma & good acid backbone in the mouth. |
| Camp Meeting Ridge | Block 13/Dimmick ("Curtis" type selection) | Flinty, green apple, oak forest floor notes |
| Camp Meeting Ridge | "Old Wente" Hyde selection | Mineral/crushed stones, Key lime; long, rich aftertaste |
| Green Valley | Rued clone | Floral, spicy aromas; soft, viscous flavors |
| Porter-Bass | Mays Canyon/Rued | Floral, spicy, animale, complex, excellent palate weight & balance |
| Hillcrest | Occidental Ridge, Robert Young clone | Honeysuckle, dried apricots; rich & fat/viscous |
Final bottling technical information
- pH: 3.49
- TA: 6.2 g/L
- 14.1% alcohol
- Residual sugar: 0.9 g/L (0.09% - very dry)