Chardonnay Reserve 2022
$ 19.00The grapes are allowed to achieve a proportionately higher potential alcohol on the vine than our classic Chardonnay.
Then, selecting 2nd and 3rd-use barrels of French and American oak for fermentation and for aging, we preserve Chardonnay’s inherent effusiveness and lengthen its palate performance without malolactic fermentation. Core varietal aromas and flavors are thereby captured, and extended by batonnage through several months on the lees.
Featured profile
FOOD PAIRINGS
White Wine Risotto with Parmigiano and chive
Bisque of Fresh Eastern Shore Shrimp
Streamed blue crab
TASTING NOTES
The wine is exploding with rich and complex flavors of pear, apple, and vanilla, a lavishly texured palate. Good acidity is well proportioned to the generous body and allows extended cellaring.
Vinification
VINTAGE FACTORS
Cellar life 5 yrs
Another challenging season which started with very early budbreak in late March, followed by a 3 night of frost which impacted and reduced the yield of Chardonnay and Nebbiolo by 20%, three more frosty nights April did not cause further damage and the season normalized in early May inducing ideal bloom conditions for the clusters. Above average precipitation in June until early August made us a bit jittery, yet hopeful, and finally we started receiving some periods of sunshine, harvest started on August 21st on white varietals with good to very good quality especially on grapes picked in early September. Stellar-solar weather in the first 4 weeks of September gifted us with an opportunity to pick good to excellent fruit according to varietal and vineyard block combination. Another Octagon Vintage from Merlot Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, no Cabernet Sauvignon.
Fermentation
In used barrels of French and American oak for 10-12 days at 70ºF; no malolactic fermentation
Aging
On the lees in used and new French and American oak for up to 8 months
Composition
Chardonnay 100%
Analysis
Alcohol, 13.0%
Residual Sugars, 0.2%
Total Acidity, 0.61%