| Tasting Notes An elegant Burgundian style chardonnay fermented and aged in French oak barrels. Great acid balance and ripe fruit flavors with a buttery finish. A perfect dinner wine. Winemaker Notes The Summer of 1997 was another sunny and warm growing season. This Chardonnay reflects the ripeness of the grapes as they show through in the delicate but elegant fruit flavors. The wine was fermented in French oak barrels from the Vosges, Troncais and Allier forests. After alcoholic fermentation was completed malolactic fermentation was induced. That was followed by a regime of stirring the lees, initially twice a week, then gradually reducing the frequency to once a month and then stopping at the end of March 1998. The wine was racked out of the barrels late May and bottled at the end of June 1998. Even though it is bone dry, the chardonnay fruitiness evokes a bit of sweetness. The oak flavors are nicely integrated and play only a supporting role. 1320 cases made. This wine has been SOLD OUT. Wine Investor/Buyer's Guide - July 1999 Medium gold in color, the aroma has hints of flowers, vanilla and spice. Nicely concentrated and a decent heft in the mouth. The taste of fresh figs are evident in this complex and tantalizing wine. Beverage Testing Institue - September 1999 86 Deep yellow-straw hue. Pleasant mineral, yeast, and bread aromas carry a toasty oak accent. A firm entry leads a moderately full-bodied palate. Rich and firmly structured. Should develop some complexities with a bit of age. Drink now or later. |