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White Rock Vineyards, Chardonnay

Other, United States 2012 (750mL)
$34.00
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White Rock Vineyards, Chardonnay


The man behind White Rock Vineyards arrived to his new home in the Napa Valley from Northern France in 1960. Henri Vendendrissche fell in love with his partner-in-life-and-vine, Claire, and by 1977 they had purchased the 35-acre estate that would become their joint, lifelong passion. They envisioned restoring the historic property to its former grandeur. The estate, once part of the original land grant to General Salvador Vallejo, was purchased and cultivated by the vivacious Dr. Pettingill back in 1870. In 1871, he built the winery out of the white rock he quarried from the property with his trusty hand saw. The original property was truly remarkable for its time and with the Vendendrissche’s labor and lover it evolved into something even more enchanting but true to its beautiful history. 
 
Today, their vines, nestled in distinct volcanic and bedrock soils, are entirely organically farmed although they have yet to seek certification. Their philosophy states, “if our kids were to eat the dirt in our vineyards, they wouldn’t be harmed.” Their sons, no longer kids, are running the show these days. Christopher became the winemaker at White Rock after pursuing his education at famous wine houses abroad including Bordeaux’s Château Pape Clément and Rioja’s Bodegas Remelluri. Michael, the vigneron of the family, oversees the vineyards and the property. The incredibly quality-conscious winery has been, and remains to be, family run. This 2012 Chardonnay is barrel-aged in 5% new French oak for eleven months on its lees. Indigenous yeasts alone are used for alcoholic fermentation and the wine undergoes only 20% malolactic fermentation, which aids in maintaining the crisp, refined acidity found in the glass. The result is a wine that greatly overperforms for its price point as many producers in the valley charge a significantly higher price-tag.
 
The 2012 White Rock Chardonnay displays a beautiful golden yellow core with slight green reflections on the rim. The intense yet focused aromas are full of highly concentrated fruits including slightly dried yellow apple, bosc pear, dried pineapple and lemon verbena over a bouquet of wildflowers, beeswax, stirred lees, fresh vanilla bean and a kiss of exotic baking spices. The nose, as well as the palate, are teeming with life and a palpable energy that is reminiscent of the world’s best examples of Chardonnay. The full-bodied palate is perfectly balanced by bright acidity, which makes this wine an exceptional snapshot of its appellation with a tension you rarely see outside of Burgundy. The concentration of yellow apple, white peach, lime leaf, pineapple and lemon zest combine with the crushed white rock minerality to deliver a near perfect example of California Chardonnay at its most balanced state. This wine is an absolute pleasure to drink right now yet will age well for another decade if kept well. Open 20-30 minutes prior to serving at around 50-55 degrees in large Burgundy stems. Similar to what I would recommend for a top flight Burgundy, don’t be afraid to let this wine warm as the texture and aromatics will deliver even greater rewards. For an ideal pairing, try this simple but hearty dish of lemon roasted chicken with garlic, herbs and potatoes.
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Country
United States
Region
Other
Sub-Region
United StatesNapa Valley
Soil
Volcanic
Farming
Organic (uncertified)
Blend
Chardonnay
Alcohol
14.1
OAK
Mostly Neutral French

United States

Washington

Columbia Valley

Like many Washington wines, the “Columbia Valley” indication only tells part of the story: Columbia Valley covers a huge swath of Central
Washington, within which are a wide array of smaller AVAs (appellations).

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Oregon’s Willamette Valley has become an elite winegrowing zone in record time. Pioneering vintner David Lett, of The Eyrie Vineyard, planted the first Pinot Noir in the region in 1965, soon to be followed by a cadre of forward-thinking growers who (correctly) saw their wines as America’s answer to French
Burgundies. Today, the Willamette
Valley is indeed compared favorably to Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. And while Pinot Noir accounts for 64% of Oregon’s vineyard plantings, there are cool-climate whites that must not be missed.

California

Santa Barbara

Among the unique features of Santa Barbara County appellations like Ballard Canyon (a sub-zone of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA), is that it has a cool, Pacific-influenced climate juxtaposed with the intense luminosity of a southerly
latitude (the 34th parallel). Ballard Canyon has a more north-south orientation compared to most Santa Barbara AVAs, with soils of sandy
clay/loam and limestone.

California

Paso Robles

Situated at an elevation of 1,600 feet, it is rooted in soils of sandy loam and falls within the Highlands District of the Paso Robles AVA.

New York

North Fork

Wine growers and producers on Long Island’s North Fork have traditionally compared their terroir to that of Bordeaux and have focused on French varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

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