2016 Coelho Vineyard Chardonnay

Description

2016 Coelho Vineyard Chardonnay

This Chardonnay is green golden in color, with a classic Burgundian nose of apple, caramel, toasted almonds, toasted hazelnuts, and a touch of delightful reduction.
The weighty palate offers honeydew, honey, and white peaches,finishing crème caramel underscored by bright lemon. Similar in style to a Meursault or other Côte de Beaune Chardonnay.

Hand-picked and whole cluster-pressed using a Champagne-style press program. The juice was settled cold (40 degrees) for 5 days, then racked into French oak barrels and allowed to warm naturally after inoculation. Fermentation completed in 25-30 days in a temperature controlled room. The wine completed malolactic degradation naturally and was aged sur lie for 12 months in 50% new and 50% neutral French oak.

Coelho Vineyard, about 35 acres of Missoula Flood sedimentary soil in the gently rolling hills south of Amity in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, produces high acid wines with generous fruit. Planted to 13 rows of Dijon 76 Chardonnay, 5 rows of Pinot Gris, and the balance to 50/50 Pommard and Dijon 777 clones of Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir from this vineyard displays notes of red fruit and earth. Chardonnay reveals a lemon core while Pinot Gris always has a wonderful balance of lemon-lime acid and expressive fruit.