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Martinelli Vineyard
Gold Medal | San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Tasting Notes
This bright and refreshing Chardonnay features aromas of pineapple, subtle hints of guava, and chamomile flowers. On the palate, it offers flavors of lychee and stone fruit, along with a gentle note of honeysuckle that lingers, creating a delicate balance. Its crisp acidity makes it an ideal companion for a warm spring day.
Vintage Notes
Cooler temperatures and an abundance of spring rains in 2023 pushed back the first day of harvest to the beginning of September. The later start and extra ripening time for the fruit allowed flavors and color to develop slowly for depth and concentration. Warm fall days spread harvest out past the end of October for many of the red varieties, with a final pick of Merlot delivered to the winery on November 2.
Vineyard Notes
The cool, foggy climate of the beautiful Russian River Valley is ideal for Chardonnay grapes. Located in the heart of this famed, grape-growing region is the Martinelli Vineyard. The Martinelli family has grown grapes here since the 1880s, and their fruit is recognized for its high quality and rich, expressive flavors.
Winemaker Notes
Picked before dawn, these grapes arrived at the winery while still cold and were carefully placed directly into our small bladder press. Only Free-run juice was collected, with gallons being racked to a stainless steel rotary tank for a slow, cool fermentation on its lees to create a creamy mouthfeel. To compliment the wine’s clean, crisp texture and bright aromatics, this lot completed 100% of its malolactic fermentation and the wine was aged for just a few short months in tank before bottling to create this supple wine.
