2011 Kuleto Chardonnay, Napa Valley
| Vintage: | 2011 |
| Wine Type: | White Wine |
| Varietal: | Chardonnay |
| Varietal Composition: | |
| 100% | Chardonnay |
| Appellation: | Napa Valley |
| Acid: | 6.6 g/L |
| PH: | 3.47 |
| Barrel Aging: | |
| 11 Months | |
| 100% | French Oak |
| 32% | New |
| Vineyard Notes: | Kuleto is one of the most complex and diverse wine producing properties in the world. Located in the volcanic mountains of eastern Napa, our estate features 761 total acres and 82.9 acres of vines perched along ridges and clinging to steep hillsides. Our soils, exposures, elevation changes, and sub-climates are so complex that we've delineated our property into more than 100 micro-blocks. Each of these tiny plots is treated as an individual vineyard with varieties, clones, rootstocks, density, trellising, and farming methods tailored specifically to the site. For winemaker Dave Lattin, there is a mutual understanding that all but a small percentage of the winemaker's work is done in the vineyard. Keeping the vineyard's serpentine twists and exposures in mind, the best-suited varietals for each block have been selected. Working with the land, not against it, the individually terraced lots are not oriented to one central direction, but instead are planted to maximize the benefits of their natural location. |
| Winemaker Notes: | With the 2011 Chardonnay, we introduce the vintage to our customers. You may have heard how 'disastrous', or 'hopelessly under-ripe' the 2011 vintage was from the press, but I can assure you that the 2011 produced some of the finest wines ever at Kuleto Estat. They are loaded with varietal character, perfectly balanced with acid and alcohol, and much more expressive than their warmer vintage counterparts. There are currently wines in barrel downstairs that are among my favorite ever made at Kuleto. Our 2011 Chardonnay is no exception. It was an absolute joy to taste barrel by barrel and put this final blend together. In 2011 we continued to push the level of skin contact prior to pressing the grapes in order to get as much character and structure into the juice before fermentation as possible. This year's Chardonnay is absolutely loaded with flavors. It's almost red wine in mouthfeel without sacrificing the attractive fresh aromas in the nose. Due to the clonal material that we have planted on the property, it still possesses the aromatic opulence of lemon and lime zest while the extra skin contact kicks up the honey, thyme, and verbena character. In lieu of actual acidity, we're looking for a bit of extra tannin for structure, and in 2010 I think that we achieved it. |
| Production: | 554 cases produced |
Kuleto is one of the most complex and diverse wine producing properties in the world. Located in the volcanic mountains of eastern Napa, our estate features 761 total acres and 82.9 acres of vines perched along ridges and clinging to steep hillsides. Our soils, exposures, elevation changes, and sub-climates are so complex that we've delineated our property into more than 100 micro-blocks. Each of these tiny plots is treated as an individual vineyard with varieties, clones, rootstocks, density, trellising, and farming methods tailored specifically to the site. For winemaker Dave Lattin, there is a mutual understanding that all but a small percentage of the winemaker's work is done in the vineyard. Keeping the vineyard's serpentine twists and exposures in mind, the best-suited varietals for each block have been selected. Working with the land, not against it, the individually terraced lots are not oriented to one central direction, but instead are planted to maximize the benefits of their natural location.
With the 2011 Chardonnay, we introduce the vintage to our customers. You may have heard how 'disastrous', or 'hopelessly under-ripe' the 2011 vintage was from the press, but I can assure you that the 2011 produced some of the finest wines ever at Kuleto Estat. They are loaded with varietal character, perfectly balanced with acid and alcohol, and much more expressive than their warmer vintage counterparts. There are currently wines in barrel downstairs that are among my favorite ever made at Kuleto. Our 2011 Chardonnay is no exception. It was an absolute joy to taste barrel by barrel and put this final blend together. In 2011 we continued to push the level of skin contact prior to pressing the grapes in order to get as much character and structure into the juice before fermentation as possible. This year's Chardonnay is absolutely loaded with flavors. It's almost red wine in mouthfeel without sacrificing the attractive fresh aromas in the nose. Due to the clonal material that we have planted on the property, it still possesses the aromatic opulence of lemon and lime zest while the extra skin contact kicks up the honey, thyme, and verbena character. In lieu of actual acidity, we're looking for a bit of extra tannin for structure, and in 2010 I think that we achieved it.
554 cases produced
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