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Martinelli Vineyard
97 pts| Double Gold | Best of Class | International Women's Wine Competition
Double Gold | San Francisco Chronicle Competition
Tasting Notes
This bright and refreshing Chardonnay bursts with scents of lemon meringue and toasted almond. This wine teases flavors of lemon pound cake and key lime while a soft note of honeysuckle lingers on the palate, creating a delicate balance. Its taut frame of bright acidity and hints of apple pie make it a perfect companion for a warm spring day.
Vintage Notes
Our 2022 harvest began just a little earlier than the previous year, with the first fruit picked on August 15. Limited rainfall during the growing season produced slightly lighter crops but brought intense, concentrated flavor and color. The consistent weather during the summer months helped maintain fruit acidity, bringing brightness and balance to the fruit’s flavors. Harvest continued through the middle of October when we picked the last red grapes from our estate, Wild Oak Vineyard.
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 at dawn, these grapes arrived at the winery while still cold and were carefully placed directly into our small bladder press. Free-run juice was collected, with partial gallons being racked to a stainless steel rotary tank for a slow, cool fermentation while the remainder was barrel fermented to create a creamy mouthfeel. To compliment the wine’s clean, crisp texture and bright aromatics, both lots completed 90% of their malolactic fermentation and aged the wine for just a few short months before bottling to create this supple wine.
