Ridgeview Liquor is please
to carry
2006 Grand Estates
Chardonnay
90 points
- Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
“Intense aromas of apple and pear lead into
hints of melon and creamy butter on the palate
in this refined Chardonnay. The lingering finish
is a lush balance of sweet oak, caramelized
sugar, and fruit.” -Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Growing Season
- The 2006 growing
season was marked by extreme weather
patterns. Spring was wet and cooler than
normal, followed by a long, dry and hot
summer.
- These factors
contributed to excellent acid levels in the
grapes, balanced canopies and small berries.
- The warmer parts
of the Horse Heaven Hills and Wahluke Slope
saw early ripening and bold flavors from the
high temperatures.
- In cooler growing
areas, later ripening prompted good acidity
and flavor in white varietals.
Vineyards
- Vineyards are
seated east of the Cascade Mountain range.
Up to 14,000 feet high, the mountains
effectively block eastward-moving wet
weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.
- Just 6 to 8 inches
of rainfall reach the growing region
annually. Vineyards are 100% drip
irrigation.
- The soils have low
fertility and low water-holding capacity,
allowing precise control of vine growth
patterns.
- Vines are planted
north to south on south and southeast facing
slopes.
Vinification
- Whole berry
Chardonnay was pressed, and the juice was
held at 50 degrees in stainless steel tanks
for two days.
- The settled juice
was placed into a combination of new and
one- to three-year-old American and French
oak barrels.
- After initial
fermentation, the wine was re-inoculated to
begin malolactic fermentation.
- All barrels were
hand stirred every week for nine months.
- Blending occurred
after a total of nine months in the barrel.
Technical Data
- Total acidity:
0.53 g/100ml
- pH: 3.57
- Alcohol: 13.8%
