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2009 Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay

Price: $75.00

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Summary

2009 Hanzell Vineyards Estate Chardonnay

Glistening with a bright green-gold hue, the color of this wine speaks of the energy of this vintage. Subtle floral aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine lift the pear and lemon scents in the nose. With time in the glass or decanter, more breadth and complexity are added to the initial aromas. The flavors are still quite tightly wound: Hanzell minerality and lemon zest acidity balanced with ripe pear, honeydew and clove. As these flavors unfold, the richness and texture in the body become more and more evident. The concentration and vibrant structure of this wine suggest an extremely good vintage for aging in the cellar. Decanting one to two hours before serving is recommended.

Vintage and Winemaking Notes

A three week long wave of near summer-like temperatures stated the second week of January and had many fearing that budbreak would come dangerously early. Cooler temperatures and numerous storms followed and fortunately held the buds in check until March. After flowering there was concern over the size of the young clusters: they appeared to be much smaller than ususal. The vines responded to the late spring rains and by veraison in early July the clusters had grown close to a more normal size. We thought then we might not have to do much thinning. However, the clusters never seemed to stop growing! They grew so much that extra thinning passes were required to keep the low balanced yields that we favor. Summer temperatures were warm, but with no searing heat waves, the fruit was brought to ripeness at a steady even pace. Harvest began on August 24th with the Robert Young clone in the Zellerbach Vineyard and concluded in the de Brye Vineyard on September 4th.

To keep the fruit cool and in pristine condition during crush we hand harvest only in the cool of the morning. The grapes were promptly brought to the winery where they were sorted again to ensure only the very best clusters were used. We employed our tradition Hanzell practices of limited skin-contact, carefully controlled fermentation, and a moderate use of new French oak which we believe best express the qualities and age-worthy style of this unique estate. Through a rigorous evaluation and blending process, only select barrels were included in the final blend which further elevates the 2009 Hanzell VIneyards Chardonnay to the level consistent with Ambassador Zellerbach's dream of producing wine equal to the best in the world.

-Michael McNeill, Winemaker

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