| Vintage: | 2008 |
| Appellation: | Carneros |
| Acid: | .8 |
| PH: | 3.35 |
| Alcohol %: | 13.5 |
| Tasting Notes: | This chardonnay has beautiful citrus and apple flavors, subtle minerality, a textured mid-palate, and a long finish. Its lower sugars and preserved acidity contribute to a mouthfeel that need not rely on alcohol, but on the flavors of the grapes themselves. From the first look—gold with a tint of green—to roundness and a soft, but not sweet, finish, this is a new kind of chardonnay. |
| Vineyard Notes: | The Sangiacomo West Rows are located in what we call “the sweet spot” of Carneros, above the harsh winds originating from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard is near the Sonoma Creek and benefits from loamy soils, unlike the clay consistency of other nearby Carneros vineyards. This combination of ideal soil and protection from the wind is why Winemaker Rodrigo Soto says, “the location is a true privilege.” We owe this privilege to a cherished relationship with the Sangiacomo family, and a handshake that has lasted almost 30 years. |
| Production Notes: | West Rows is unique in that it combines two wine-making styles: an aroma that is characteristic of a California Chardonnay and a Burgundy style in the mouth. The grapes from West Rows were picked at a lower level of sugar and pressed so the fruit reaches its pinnacle in the bottle, not on the vine. We age this chardonnay in stainless steel drums, a smaller vessel for malolactic fermentation that mimics the advantages of the small size of a barrel without the effects of the wood. This wine is unfiltered so it is pure in your glass. |
Tasting Notes:
This chardonnay has beautiful citrus and apple flavors, subtle minerality, a textured mid-palate, and a long finish. Its lower sugars and preserved acidity contribute to a mouthfeel that need not rely on alcohol, but on the flavors of the grapes themselves. From the first look—gold with a tint of green—to roundness and a soft, but not sweet, finish, this is a new kind of chardonnay.
Vineyard Notes:
The Sangiacomo West Rows are located in what we call “the sweet spot” of Carneros, above the harsh winds originating from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard is near the Sonoma Creek and benefits from loamy soils, unlike the clay consistency of other nearby Carneros vineyards. This combination of ideal soil and protection from the wind is why Winemaker Rodrigo Soto says, “the location is a true privilege.” We owe this privilege to a cherished relationship with the Sangiacomo family, and a handshake that has lasted almost 30 years.
Production Notes:
West Rows is unique in that it combines two wine-making styles: an aroma that is characteristic of a California Chardonnay and a Burgundy style in the mouth. The grapes from West Rows were picked at a lower level of sugar and pressed so the fruit reaches its pinnacle in the bottle, not on the vine. We age this chardonnay in stainless steel drums, a smaller vessel for malolactic fermentation that mimics the advantages of the small size of a barrel without the effects of the wood. This wine is unfiltered so it is pure in your glass.
Other Notes:
“Extreme” would be a good description of the 2008 vintage. The elements played a huge role in our vineyard management – from frost, to drought, to high winds, to heat waves and eventually smoke from fires hundreds of miles away. We were hard at work from start to finish. Initially, harvest began early in August, but cooler temperatures slowed things down a bit and the rest of the harvest was evenly paced and lasted into October. The 2008 vintage was excellent for Chardonnay.
