Route Stock Carneros Chardonnay

This wine is a blend of three separate clones of Chardonnay: Wente (61%), Dijon 76 (31%) and Chardonnay Musque (8%). This trio of clones gives the wine greater complexity, depth of flavor and aromatics than any single clone wine. In an effort to keep the wine showing the exotic freshness that it showed in tank and then in barrel, we stopped malolactic fermentation about 15% of the way through, thus retaining higher acidity, freshness and vitality. The wine shows a beautiful light straw color with seductive aromas of Meyer lemon, wet stone, lemon thyme, melon and ginger. The wine fills the pallet beautifully with a brightness and liveliness combined with just enough richness to not be heavy that shows the Carneros region’s strengths to the best degree. The exotic flavors of this well-balanced Chardonnay are of Meyer lemon rind, fresh tarragon, honeydew melon and jasmine tea and that transitions to an amazingly balanced mouth-feel and lengthy finish.