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What We Say 2005 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Mission Codename: Solid Gold
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Infiltrate Pezzi King, a Wine Spies Operative Favorite, and secure a stash of their famous Russian River Chardonnay
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Pezzi King Vineyards
Wine Subject: 2005 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
Winemaker: Gabriella Gazzano
Backgrounder: Our Operatives love Pezzi King wines, and today we manage to get our hands on a small quantity of their amazing 2005 Chardonnay, born of the Russian River Valley, a region known for producing Chardonnay or remarkable distinction and depth of character. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report below, and find why he selected today’s wine.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – A beautifully bright, light golden-yellow, maintaining color out to the sides of the glass with glittering edges. The wine has a bouncy and fast-settling surface that leaves behind short and chubby legs that are slow to emerge before they move slowly down the inside of the glass
Smell – Bold aromas of fresh white flowers, caramelized lemon tart, honeydew mellow, green apple, toasted vanilla, spice and flinty minerals
Feel – Ultra-round and velvety smooth up front, then very slightly dry and smooth, as the wines full-body fills the palate with great structure and supple tannins
Taste – Rich and full-bodied flavors of tropical fruit, melon, lemon curd, roasted hazelnut, green pear, soft spice and soft vanilla-oak
Finish – This wine finishes long and clean with lingering flavors of pear and citrus, a touch of creamy nuttiness and oak with a mineral component that invites additional sipping
Conclusion – This is a really wonderful Chardonnay! If you thought that Agent White, our resident white wine expert, was notoriously difficult to please, you can be assured that I am even harder to please when it come to white wines. Agent White and I both concur on this particular wine; A rich and weighty wine that is pure gold in the glass, delivering a bold yet beautifully balanced experience that is long on flavor and strong character, but without being overpowering – or over buttered . This wine holds all of its richness and big flavors in harmony. If you are afraid of boring Chardonnay that lacks character, or hate over-the-top oak bombs that smack you across the palate, rest assured, you will find neither in this terrific Chardonnay
Mission Report:
I first infiltrated Pezzi King Almost a year ago. The wine that I procured for you then became one of our best-selling wines of all time. While The Wine Spies continue to grow at a phenomenal pace, setting new records all the time, Pezzi King has yet to be dethroned. That’s how much our Operatives love Pezzi King Wines.
So, why haven’t we shown a Pezzi King here in the last several months? The answer is simple: Demand has outpaced supply!
Despite the mutual adoration that we share with the winery, there simply was not enough wine to meet the demands of our thirsty, Pezzi-lovin’ Operatives. Until recently!
How did I do it? Maybe I intercepted an ocean going cargo container. Perhaps I bribed a distributor, infiltrated the Pezzi King wine cave, or raided several small bottle shops. Whichever was the case, the end result is to your benefit, dear Operative!
Supply is limited, and with the Holiday’s behind us most Operatives are replenishing their reserves – securing full cases for their post-holiday recoveries, so please order before we run out!
A hearty thank you to our friends at Pezzi King Winery. We are crazy about your wines!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Pezzi King Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Pezzi King
About This Wine:
This wine was carefully crafted to allow full expression of the Russian River terroir. The well established vines provide concentrated flavor and depth. Enticing bouquet of lemon blossom, creamy vanilla and delicate spice. Full bodied exhibiting honeyed mandarin, tropical fruit and notes of roasted hazelnuts on the palate. The wine was fermented naturally using indigenous yeasts supplying additional complexity and adding weight to the palate. The French oak complements the fruit with delicate nuances of spice and vanilla.
Food Pairing: Tuna and Avacado Tartare with California Caviar on Sesame Wonton Crisps
History of Pezzi King Vineyards:
James P. Rowe, Sr., is passionate about his Italian heritage. His love of agriculture is rooted in the time spent as a child at his grandfather’s Central Valley ranches, while his family ties are expressed in the name he and his late wife Jane gave their vineyard: Pezzi King combines the names of Jim’s and Jane’s mothers, respectively.
The Rowes established Pezzi King Vineyards in 1993, when Jim discovered a beautiful vineyard nestled in the hills of Dry Creek Valley during a weekend visit from San Francisco. Aware of the vineyard’s superior terroir and captivated by the site’s natural beauty, he purchased the 137-acre estate and undertook its beautiful transformation into one of the leading producers of Zinfandel in the acclaimed Dry Creek Valley appellation.
The first step was restoring the vineyard to its natural, unspoiled potential: Jim Rowe, Sr. immediately eliminated all use of chemicals and implemented all-natural farming techniques. His commitment to quality extended to the winery, as well, which they completely renovated with state-of-the-art equipment.
Today, Jim Rowe, Sr. and his wife, Cynthia, run the winery as a collaborative enterprise. Cynthia Rowe is involved with business planning and strategy for Pezzi King Vineyards.
Jim Rowe, Sr. states his mission for Pezzi King Vineyards directly: “I wanted wines that would be considered among the best in the world. To accomplish this, I had to start with an excellent piece of land and add the right mix of talent and hard work. We’re doing that at Pezzi King and we’ll continue to strive for and achieve excellence in everything we do.”
In 2006, Pezzi King Vineyards won 10 Gold and 5 Silver medals in wine competitions and is among one of the highest rated Zinfandel in the world.
About the Winemaker:
Gabriella Gazzano is no stranger to critically acclaimed Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels. She helped craft them for five years at Fritz Winery in Cloverdale, and the opportunity to make wine for one of the region’s most noted Zinfandel producers is one major reason she agreed to become Head Winemaker for Pezzi King Vineyards. “I started my winemaking career experiencing old-vine Zinfandel at Fritz, and I’m really excited to be back in Dry Creek and work with the wonderful fruit that Pezzi King grows and sources,” said Gazzano.
Technical Analysis:
Vintage: 2005
Wine Type: White Wine
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Harvest Date: September 2005
Acid: 0.63 gm/100ml
pH: 3.55
Cooperage: 30% New French Oak, Damy, Cadus
Alcohol: 14.4%
