2021 Chardonnay,
Ritchie Vineyard

$85 / bottle
Purchase

Legendary for its old Chardonnay vines and unusual mix of disparate soils, the site is regarded as a “California Grand Cru Chardonnay Vineyard.” Our 20 rows were planted in 1972.

Vineyard

Ritchie Vineyard is widely spaced, as was the fashion in the early ‘70s.  These old, gnarly trunked vines produce small clusters with distinct “hen and chick” berry sizes.

Harvest Date: Aug 20
Brix: 22.1˚
Soil: The bench land soil is gravelly, sandy Goldridge Loam, originating from the bed of an ancient inland sea, over volcanic Tuff rock. The vine rows slope down from an old, volcanic vent jutting up through the sandstone.
Clones: Old Wente selection, with a few scattered Musqué selection vines planted in 1972
AVA: Russian River Valley

Winemaking

Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Fermentation: We press whole grape clusters for phenolic delicacy. Native yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies bâtonnage.
Aging: After aging 20 months in 20% new Taransaud Beaune French oak barrels, the Chardonnay was traditionally fined for clarity and texture and bottled without filtration.

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