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2010 Textbook Vineyards Chardonnay, "Fin de Journée", Napa Valley• Hallmark provenance brings bright fruit, depth, creamy texture and zippy acidity Price: $23/bottle Shipping and handling included at no charge on 6+ bottles!
• ACCOLADES •2009 Vintage GOOD VALUE!
• Vintage 2010 •2010 weather in Napa Valley was unusually cold. As such, grapes had long hang time to develop flavor and yields were down modestly. But all in all, it was a "no drama" season for Chardonnay, allowing us to fine tune vineyard activities and pick when the flavor was at its peak and before the October rains. • TWO REMARKABLE Vineyards •Our "Fin de Journée" Chardonnay comes from two superb Napa Valley sites. The first is located in the Los Carneros AVA, near the cold San Pablo Bay and its long, cool season brings tropical and stone fruit aromas and terrific depth of flavor. The second site represents forty percent of our blend, is located at the Yountville Crossroads, and is over 25 years old. These rugged, older vines deliver a fraction of the yield of today's more prolific clones, but what is offered is exceptional, offering unctuous texture and aromatic complexity. Exemplary sustainable farming practices are employed in these sites, unevenly ripened bunches were hand culled reducing yield to less than 3 tons/acre. • Winemaking •Hand-picked Chardonnay clusters were field sorted into half-ton bins between September 27 and October 6 and then gravity-transferred into the press where a gentle whole cluster press cycle delivered a modest 155 gallons per ton. After settling, the juice was transferred to French barrels and a stainless tank and naturally began slow, cool fermentations. The barrels were of the highest quality; thirty percent new, two-year air dried, medium toast and handbent by Remond and Seguin-Moreau in France. Nine months barrel maturation with battonage (lees stirring) helped develop texture and its classic mouth-feel. The balance (40%) was fermented in stainless steel to capture freshness. Cultured yeasts finished off the indigenous fermentation beautifully. The two lots saw complete (or no) malolactic fermentation with the final blend seeing about 40% malolactic.
• Wine Facts • Regional Composition: 100% Napa Valley AVA (Los Carneros 60%), Yountville AVA (40%) Fact Sheet
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Price: $23/bottle Shipping and handling included at no charge on 6+ bottles!
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"The Textbook 2009 Chardonnay exhibits lots of poached pear, crushed rock/mineral and white peach notes, very good acidity and a perfumed, elegant style. A very good wine, displaying degrees of finesse and flavor. A new discovery for me, this offering from Jonathan and Susan Pey performed admirably in peer group tastings. 89 points."
