Chardonnay • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2017

Chardonnay

Best of Class | SF Chronicle Wine Competition | March 2019
Gold Medal | Sonoma County Harvest Fair | Sept 2019
Best of Class | Sonoma County Harvest Fair | Sept 2019
Gold Medal | USA Wine Ratings Competition | Aug 2019
Best of Varietal | USA Wine Ratings Competition | Aug 2019

Tasting Notes

This is a refreshing, medium-bodied Chardonnay with flavors and aromas of green apple, juicy pear, and melon with a background note of marzipan. Bright and crisp, the wine is nicely balanced with a touch of minerality on the smooth and silky finish.

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season started out wet with record-breaking rainfall after several dry years. A mild spring led to a timely bud break and good fruit set, followed by ideal conditions of cool mornings and warm, sunny days throughout the summer months. A few days of intense heat at the beginning of September sped up ripening throughout the region. Well-timed picks meant the majority of the fruit was in by the first week of October. Beautiful color, well-defined aromatics, and outstanding flavor are all evident in this year’s vintage.

Vineyard Notes

Grapes that produce our Sonoma County Chardonnay come from our estate vineyards in Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley, as well as from growers in Sonoma County’s other top appellations, including Carneros and Alexander Valley. Each carefully selected vineyard contributes distinctive and individual qualities to the finished wine.

Winemaker Notes

To preserve Chardonnay’s delicate flavors, aromas, and acidity, the grapes are picked at night and in the very early morning hours so the fruit arrives cold at the winery. Grapes are then immediately pressed to the whole cluster and fermented in different lots. The wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation and is aged for six months in French oak barrels. During aging, bâtonage (stirring the lees by hand) is performed to achieve complexity and a rich mouthfeel.