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2006 Hawley Chardonnay Vineyards Sonoma county’s Russian River Valley provides the ideal climate to insure intense fruit flavors and balanced acidity in this versatile grape. In 2006 we sourced fruit from two vineyards: Lazy W Ranch (72%) and Monroe Vineyard (28%). The 2006 growing season began
with a late, wet spring. September rains caused a lot of concern and botrytis
mold damaged up to 50% of the crop in some vineyards. We were lucky to
have little botrytis and the long hang time allowed for development of
intense flavors in our Chardonnay. Winemaking This wine was whole-cluster pressed, to minimize tannin, and fermented in 25% new French oak barrels. Barrel fermentation and sur lee aging adds a velvety mouth-feel and toasty notes. 100% malolactic fermentation softens the high natural acidity of the grapes and adds a buttery complexity At Hawley Wines we follow traditional French winemaking techniques, including barrel fermentation and secondary malolactic fermentation. Barrel fermentation adds body and a creamy mouth feel to the wine while malolactic fermentation reduces the natural high acidity in the grape, and adds a buttery complexity. Some vintners choose to ferment their Chardonnay in stainless steel tanks, claiming that it helps preserve the natural fruit flavors of the grape, but French wine making entails taking this natural product and interacting with it making it more than the original fruit. In 1980, founding Winemaker John Hawley set the standard for a new kind of California Chardonnay at fledgling Clos du Bois Wines, barrel-fermenting fruit in a traditional French style that was virtually unknown in California at the time. Industry mavens who didn't believe this upstart approach would be relevant missed the boat-within 5 years half of the area's Chardonnay was made using oak barrels, and by 1996, his last year at Kendall-Jackson, John supervised the production of 2.4 million cases using this method. Today he makes about 450 cases. Technical Appellation: Russian River Valley Tasting Notes This 100% Chardonnay shows flavors of crisp green apples, citrus, and peach along with spicy oak notes and a buttery mouth-feel. To order this wine click here CLICK
HERE for a printable description of Hawley 2006 Chardonnay. |
Chardonnay grapes falling into the press
"Diggers Bend" by Dana Hawley- www.danahawley.com
Dumping Chardonnay grapes into the press
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