Description
The 2022 Chardonnay Rhyolite (named after the volcanic rhyolitic soils where these vines are grown) was fermented and matured for 11 months in 50% French oak and stainless steel. It opens with touches of flint that give way to yellow apples, peach pit and floral aromas. The palate is more open at this early stage, offering concentrated, peachy fruit and honeyed undertones. It has a satiny texture, vibrant acidity and a long, layered finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar.
- Country: United States
- Region: California
- Appellation: Sonoma Coast
- Size: 750ml
- Color: White
Varietal
Chardonnay
Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.
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