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Russian River Valley
2023 Davis Bynum River West Chardonnay
In Stock
Winemaking Notes
Our River West Vineyard Chardonnay features enticing aromas of lemon curd, apple pie and graham
cracker, along with flavors of baked golden apple and pie crust. The sweet honeysuckle flavors weave
together with a layer of toasted hazelnut, balance by oak aging and bright acidity. Enjoy this Chardonnay
with a variety of salty cheeses, butternut squash ravioli, grilled pork chops or creamy soups.
Vineyard Notes
The River West Vineyard is located on Westside Road, on a low riverside bench, in the far northern end of the Russian River Valley. The soil is predominantly Yolo sandy-silt loam but with a pocket of gravelly Cortina soil in one block. It has been said that Chardonnay shows the hand of the winemaker more than other varietals. Our winemaker, Greg Morthole, believes there is some truth in that, but also believes the best vineyard sites yield fruit that distinctively express the characteristics of their location in the finished wine. Gregs delicate signature is embedded in each vintage as favored blocks and clones from River West are blended to show off the terroir of that site. The result is a delicious Chardonnay that shows
characteristics of its origins derived from careful and deliberate winemaking choices to highlight our best lots.
Production Notes
Due to excessive rain in the spring of 2023, the ground became saturated, leading to a delayed bud
break, which consequently resulted in a late harvest in the fall. After a final inch of rain in early May,
sunny and dry weather became the norm. Pleasant summer days rarely reached temperatures of 95°F
until late August. The process of grapes changing color, was predictably delayed by about a month. A
rare tropical storm hit California, causing a change in air pressure that brought light drizzle, another
quarter of an inch of rain fell in late September, right as we were beginning our harvest, prompting
us to pause and allow the ground to dry out. We finally completed the harvest on October 7, about a
month later than usual, but under ideal fall conditions with perfectly healthy grapes.
Other Notes
*Our 2023 River West Chardonnay is a vegan wine.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2023
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Acid
0.65g/100mL
pH
3.11
Aging
13 months in French and Eastern European oak barrels, 32% new
Alcohol %
14.5
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