This lusciously opulent wine has all the richness without the excessive oak and butter that characterize most California Chardonnays. Wonderful aromas of pineapple, pear and orange flower honey are prominent with undertones of toasty oak. There is a kiss of orange blossom perfume in the background. Flavors of apple butter and cinnamon toast are balanced by a good dose of lemon zest and a crisp, mineral finish. Pair this lovely Chardonnay with roast chicken or risotto or a salad of apples, pears and sharp cheese.
Blend: 98% Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay, 2% Russian River Chardonnay
Production: 23,500 cases
2010 was picture perfect for us out here in the Dunnigan Hills AVA. Cooler than normal temperatures and very little wind allowed us to ripen our grapes slowly, allowing maximum flavor and intensity.
Six different clones of chardonnay were used in this wine and all were picked at night and delivered to the winery before sunrise to ensure that fresh cool grapes were crushed. Clone 809 (the most exotic) was cold tank fermented to enhance its Muscat character. The other lots were barrel fermented and periodically lees stirred. Yeast “cocktails” (a mixture of the winemaker’s favorite compatible yeasts) were used on all lots to ensure complex fermentation characters would evolve in the wine. Chardonnay from the Matchbook Vineyard was blended with a small percentage of Russian River Valley Chardonnay to balance the acidity and add characters of intense Pippin apples and floral spice.
