Heintz’s older Chardonnay vines have yielded a wine that expresses everything we like about this vineyard—in particular, its distinctive balance between a rich, creamy texture and potent acidity. The aromas echo this contrast with bright, lifted citrus notes underscored by layers of caramel, apple pie, pear and baking spices. On the palate this Chardonnay displays beautiful weight and intensity framed by notable acidity.
The 2009 growing season offered picture-perfect growing conditions on the Sonoma Coast. A relatively dry winter was followed by a dry spring, which naturally limited canopy growth and yields. Summer offered consistently even temperatures with a mix of cool, foggy mornings and afternoon sunshine. A moderate heat event in mid-September brought sustained temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s for the better part of two weeks. This timely heat allowed the fruit to develop pure, focused flavors with classic Sonoma Coast acidity.
Harvest Dates: September 8 – October 22, 2009
Average Sugar at Harvest: 24.8° Brix
1 Vineyard Harvested
VARIETAL CONTENT
100% Chardonnay
COOPERAGE
90% Barrel Fermentation
100% French Oak
35% New Oak, 65% Second Vintage
Barrel Aging: 10 Months
TECHNICAL DATA
100% Malolactic
Alcohol: 14.1%
0.55 g/100 ml titratable acidity
pH: 3.55
Bottled: July 2010
Release Date: March 2011
91 Points
Trim and focused, with bright, vivid, leesy pineapple and tropical fruit flavors that are spicy and full-bodied, yet elegant and detailed on the finish. More>
95 Points
A stunningly good, upscale Chard to drink with very rich fare, such as ricotta cheese filled gnocchi with grilled rock shrimp and Parmesan cheese. More>
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