Fall Release Ritchie Vineyard Chloe Chardonnay
2010

Winemaker’s Notes

The majesty of Ritchie Vineyard really comes to the fore in this vintage – it’s my favorite bottling for ‘Chloe’ since 2005. This wine is all about vineyard-derived power and richness, the kind of natural density that only comes from the greatest sites in California, of which Ritchie is in the upper tier. There’s wave upon wave of intensity and concentration alongside great breadth and length, but this never comes at the expense of focus, precision nor ultimately, elegance. The mid-palate has richness and density, but the wine is always alive and energetic due to prominent cool season citrus acidity. There’s no excess weight or clumsy billowing texture, all the component parts are focused upon delivering the powerful vineyard signature – wrapped up in spine tingling freshness. A wonderful wine and one of the stars of the vintage.

Brilliant pale yellow gold color. Richly aromatic: Nectarine, orange marmalade, mango, a subtle edge of fragrant lilies. Broad intense fruit richness, white peach, citrus oil, toasted nuts, almond paste, brioche. Real sense of thrusting power, but perfect balance between pulsating fruit and precise acidity. Lemon zest finish. Serve at no cooler than 55 degrees and drink between 2012 and 2018.

Andy Smith Viticulturist, Winemaker & Partner