2009 Water Bend Chardonnay, Alexander Valley
| Vintage: | 2009 |
| Wine Type: | White Wine |
| Varietal: | Chardonnay |
| Appellation: | Alexander Valley |
| Aging: | 8 months |
| Bottling Date: | 07/10 |
| Alcohol %: | 14.1 |
A portion of the blend is sourced from a unique eight acre site at our Ascentia Estate vineyard. The proximity of the block within a stone’s throw of the Russian River, as well as at the base of the estate’s hillsides, traps both the fog and cool air well into the day. This prolongs the ripening period. To preserve fruit flavors, grapes were harvested in the early morning hours, and then gently pressed whole, without crushing, to avoid any harsh extractions. After cold settling, the juice was racked directly to barrel.
An important part of Geyser Peak Winery’s Chardonnay program is the use of American oak barrels whose staves are soaked in hot water prior to shaping. The water leaches harsh components out of the wood and significantly increases the depth of toasting of the staves as they are shaped over fire. This process yields barrels which impart a more delicate, subtle oak character to the wine along with an elevated creaminess. Following fermentation in barrel, the wine was allowed to remain in contact with the yeast lees for the entire eight-month maturation period, and stirred periodically in order to integrate the nutty, deep flavors of the lees into the wine. Approximately half of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation. – Ondine Chattan
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