The hazy pale lemon hue is evidence of subtle stirring of the lees and bottling without fining or filtration. The decadent texture intertwined with electrifying acidity and stoney minerality expresses the high elevation and cool coastal climate. Aromas of lemon tart, butterscotch, clementine, mineral, and marzipan soar from the glass. As the wine touches the palate, Bartlett pear, wet stones and golden plum flavors wrap around the energetic, linear, nervy core. The wine is elegant, with supple texture and a crisp expansive finish. This wine is certain to evolve for years to come.
470 cases produced.
93 Points, Editors' Choice - Wine Enthusiast
Made from grapes grown in a coastal, cool-climate vineyard, this Chardonnay is gracefully minerally and acidic. It has all the tart, wet-stone tang you could want, along with intense quince, golden mango and Asian pear fruitiness. This lovely wine is worth every cent of its price. – S.H.
91 Points - Connoisseurs' Guide
Wonderfully juicy and bursting with sweet and slightly pulpy, apple-like fruit and enriched by an enticingly creamy bit of caramelly oak in its very deep and well-focused aromas, this fully filled-out Chardonnay is enlivened by plenty of pert acid and, while claiming only 12.8% alcohol, is surprisingly concentrated and very fleshy in feel. If sure to age gracefully, it is quite showy now and will match up nicely with well-seasoned salmon fillets in the immediate term.
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
The hazy pale lemon hue is evidence of subtle stirring of the lees and bottling without fining or filtration. The
decadent texture intertwined with electrifying acidity and stoney minerality expresses the high elevation and
cool coastal climate. Aromas of lemon tart, butterscotch, clementine, mineral, and marzipan soar from the glass.
As the wine touches the palate, Bartlett pear, wet stones and golden plum flavors wrap around the energetic,
linear, nervy core. The wine is elegant, with supple texture and a crisp expansive finish. This wine is certain to
evolve for years to come.
Vineyard Notes
From our mountain vineyard that overlooks the Sonoma Coast and now part of the new Fort Ross-Seaview American
Viticultural Area, Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery produces limited quantities of single vineyard, Estate grown, cool-climate
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinotage. With spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean less than one mile away, the vineyard is
divided into 30 separate blocks, one-half to two acres in size, that rapidly fall from 1700 down to 1200 feet above sea level.
Owners, Lester and Linda Schwartz and their small crew began preparing the 50 acre vineyard in 1994. It took them 4 years
of preparation before they could begin planting the first vines in 1998.
Production Notes
On the Sonoma Coast we are used to dripping coastal fog and winter rains of up to 125” a year. The growing cycle
generally starts late in this cool, maritime climate but the 2011 spring was unusually cold and wet. The vineyard
remained dorment until May when the days suddenly grew hot and the vines burst into action three months later
than usual. In June, during bloom, the clusters were well positioned on the vines. Then it rained once more
resulting in far less cluster development than expected. During the cool summer the grapes did increase their pace
to make up for lost time and miraculously developed vibrant flavors at far lower degrees Brix. With some hot
weather the sugar levels did increase but still remained far lower than in previous vintages. Unexpected early fall
rain, followed by thick fog, caused many vineyards to pick their crop before optimal ripeness. All around Sonoma
County were horror stories of rot raging through the vineyards and grapes being picked at 19° Brix. Each of our
blocks were left to ripen as long as the grapes remained healthy and made significant gains in flavor. Finally most of
of the vineyard was picked at about 22° Brix which converts into wine of approximately 13% alcohol. It was going
to be a vintage of low alcohol levels. We were fortunate that the wild Sonoma Coast gave us another unexpected
gift - time to wait patiently before harvest.
Winemaker Notes
Jeff Pisoni. The grapes were handpicked during the cool hours of the night in small two-gallon picking trays then hand sorted in
the vineyard and gently whole cluster pressed at the winery. After pressing, the juice was put into barrels and
underwent primary and malolactic fermentation in a combination of 30% new and 70% used French oak. This
discrete use of new oak allowed the fruit to shine. This wine is comprised of small berried old Hyde field selection
chosen for its richness and sleek structure and small berried old Wente for its luscious fruit and grace. These heritage
field selections have full, complex flavors that are intensified by the small size of both the bunches and the berries.
Other Notes
80% Old Hyde, 20% Wente field selections
