2016 Knudsen Vineyards Chardonnay

WINEMAKING PROCESS

ROCO Chardonnay is handpicked and then chilled overnight at 38˚ F in a large storage room. The chilled bunches are then pressed and the juice is sent to a tank. After settling in tank, the juice is inoculated and racked to neutral oak where is completes fermentation. After primary fermentation is complete, the young wine goes through malolactic fermentation in order to soften the acidity and to add further complexity. Next, the wines are racked to a mix of new and neutral French oak. There they rest for at least five months before bottling.

WINEMAKER TASTING NOTES

The aromas are a mix of Asian pear and honey-crisp apple fruit with characteristically cool region spice, vanilla, white flower complexity. The flavors are a seamless, full throttle, ripe tree fruit of white nectarine and comice pear. Yet they still have lively acidity and minerality and are definite palate players. The finish travels forever. Enjoy this wine as an aperitif and notice the refreshing acidity. Then, carry it into a meal to bring out the vanilla and nectarine succulence. -Rollin Soles, Winemaker

93 Wine Enthusiast