2009 Estate Chardonnay

2009 estate chardonnay

Varietal Information

100% chardonnay
14.5% alcohol by volume

History

Ridge produced its first chardonnay in 1962 from fully-mature vines planted in the late 1940s on the Monte Bello estate vineyard. Production never exceeded ten barrels, and Monte Bello chardonnay was sold principally at the winery. Several great vintages, among them the 1973, '74, '79, and '84, showed that our cool climate and fractured limestone sub-soils were well suited to the varietal. By 1985, the old vines were producing less than a half-ton per acre; the younger ones, planted in the '70s, provided the majority of grapes. These newer plantings were on the "lower" vineyard not yet farmed as part of the Monte Bello estate so the wine was called "Santa Cruz Mountains." The vines are long since included in the estate; with this vintage, the name becomes Ridge Estate Chardonnay. In years when differences among lots are sufficient to warrant a separate bottling, we make a limited amount of Monte Bello Chardonnay as well.

Vintage

Harvest Dates: 12 - 27 September
Grapes Average Brix: 24.3 degrees
Fermentation: Whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented. Natural primary and secondary (malolactic).
Selection: Seven of the ten Monte Bello Vineyard chardonnay
Barrels: 10% new, 15% one year old, 25% two year old, 30% three and four year old. 93% air-dried American Oak, 7% French oak.
Aging: Fifteen months in barrel

Growing Season

Rainfall: Twenty-eight inches (below average)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Dry winter, late spring rains followed by a mild summer. Warm Fall harvest.

Winemaking

All estate-grown Monte Bello vineyard grapes, hand harvested. Whole-cluster pressed. Fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally-occurring bacteria. Minimum effective sulfur (35 ppm initially to barrels, 80 ppm over the course of aging). Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Winemaker Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes - Translucent gold color. Fresh tropical fruits layered with apple, pear, melon. Honeysuckle nectar, wet limestone. Cool-climate firm acid. Barrel toast and caramelized apple in finish. -Eric Baugher (2/11)

Tasting Notes and Reviews


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