This chardonnay is crafted with premium fruit from ideally-sited vineyards near the Russian River and Sausal Creek, where rocky, fast-draining soil helps impart enticing Chablis-style mineral influences to wines.
In the excellent 2009 vintage, moderately warm temperatures and cool nights produced a pleasing balance of acidity and fruit richness. In the cellar, David barrel-fermented his hand-selected grapes for just a touch of oak character, then transferred the mix to stainless steel, to preserve that pure fruit character and lighter, crisper texture.
In the glass, look for ripe green apple and pear, supported by light oak and mineral notes. Accessible and flavorful, this white is a real crowd-pleaser, sure to hit the spot with roast chicken, pork and turkey. Or, sip it with a variety of fish and shellfish — David recommends grilled halibut with a squeeze of lemon and a side of steamed veggies.