WindVane Estate Grown Chardonnay 2015
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The nose opens up with creamy ripe peach and pineapple with a hint of brioche. The fruit intensifies on mouth adding apricot and a touch of citrus. In the background is sweet toasty oak that serves to support the fruit, and the crisp acidity finishes out with some mineral at the very end.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This new offering from the sparkling wine producer reveals strongly crafted layers of creamy apple pie, crème brûlée and toasty oak flavors. Made in a full-bodied, concentrated style, it doesn't hold back on its spicy acidity and lemony finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Carneros Chardonnay has notes of lemon pie, pink grapefruit and green mango with touches of honeyed toast and allspice. Medium-bodied, the palate is understated and savory, with a good amount of citrus fruit and spice notes, finishing long and lively.
WindVane was created as an homage to the wind that contributes to the unique character of the wines of Western Carneros. After working with the same vineyards for years, winemaker Steven Urberg was intrigued by some of the windiest vineyard blocks on the estate. The wines coming from these wind-blown vines are concentrated with great depth of fruit and a generous mouthfeel.
WindVane is selected from the most expressive parcels throughout their 335 acres of estate vineyards in the Carneros region of Northern California. Their unique property has an East facing exposure with a mountain range directly alongside the West side of the vineyards.
The mountains provide altitude, shallow rocky soils, shade from the intense afternoon sun and they also serve to funnel the intense Pacific Coast breezes directly onto the vineyards. They select vines from the steepest, rockiest areas of the vineyards where the soils are very thin and the vines are challenged throughout the growing season. They face the natural elements of a cooler marine layer in the mornings and afternoons, and intense wind which results in small crops of very slow ripening fruit that produce intense character.
WindVane is produced by Gloria Ferrer.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.