Winemaker's Notes
This vineyard makes unusual-for-California Chardonnay. It seems to demand more bottle age than the Scherrer Vineyard Chardonnay from the Alexander Valley. My second vintage with this Russian River Valley Chardonnay, I felt it has the material to move toward a more edgy, controversial style that would benefit from bottle age. It was harvested a little riper racked a little ‘dirtier’, and fermented warmer than in 1998, giving it less of the pretty floral notes and more meaty, leesy, ‘stinkiness’ reminiscent of some young white Burgundies. It is not a style for everyone, but thems that likes that style, is thems that will be pleased.
