Sebastiani Chardonnay Sonoma County

Description

”The Vineyards For more than four decades, Sonoma County has been one of the premier regions in California for Chardonnay. Our multiplicity of climates and soils provide a broad range of sites perfectly suited for this noble grape. Taking full advantage of this diversity, our 2010 Sonoma County Chardonnay features fruit from the Russian River Valley, Carneros, Sonoma Valley, Chalk Hill and Alexander Valley appellations.The Vintage As with 2009, 2010 was a cool and late season. It started out with a later budbreak in April, but escaped any frost. Summer was cool with more fog than usual. August though was warmer, allowing the ripening to catch up. The crop load was above average, but not over cropped. Late September also saw a burst of heat, and we began harvesting in Alexander and Sonoma Valleys. Continued Indian summer weather enabled the remaining Chardonnay to ripen prior to the deluge on the 18th of October. All Chardonnay was feverishly harvested prior to that date.Winemaking We hand-picked and whole-cluster pressed the grapes then racked 65% of the juice into barrels for barrel fermentation. The remainder was tank fermented at cooler temperatures, carefully avoiding malolactic to preserve bright fruit notes and acidity. For added complexity, we matched each lot with a selected yeast strain, including indigenous. Most of the stainless steel fermented lots were racked with light lees into neutral barrels in December/January. We aggressively stirred the lees in late spring to release more texture and flavors. Some of the lots were racked out in late July through mid-August for fining. The remainder was left sur lie over harvest to gain further texture and richness. We racked out the remaining in late October through mid-December with additional fining and blending to achieve our style.Winemakers Notes Our 2010 Sonoma County Chardonnay displays all the style and complexity one would expect from our excellent Chardonnay vineyards and careful use of oak barrels. The nose is a luscious blend of lemon curd, yellow apple, vanilla and caramel. The palate is moderately creamy with bright apple fruit and hints of butterscotch. The finish is roasty, toasty and round. From first to last, this is quintessential Sonoma County Chardonnay.” – Mark R. Lyon, Winemaker