- 90
- points
"Smart Buy" - Wine Spectator
- Blend
- 100% Chardonnay
- Total Acidity
- 0.57 g/mL
- pH
- 3.41
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
2007 vintage
2008 Horse Heaven HillsChardonnay
"Aromatics of slight mineral, apple, pear, smoke and Horse Heaven Hills dust open this elegant yet racy, medium-bodied Chardonnay. A balanced palate of fruit and French oak leads to a seductive, creamy vanilla finish." Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Whole-berry Chardonnay from select vineyards was pressed. The juice was held at 50 degrees in stainless steel tanks for two days allowing solids to settle.
40% of the clarified juice was barrel fermented in new American and French oak, and 30% in older oak barrels to create complexity and maintain the fruit integrity.
30% of the juice was fermented instainless steel to retain the minerality and fruit-forward, elegant characters unique to the Horse Heaven Hills region.
All barrels were hand-stirred weekly for six to nine months.
