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2007 Vineyard Montage Chardonnay
Candied lemon and ginger in the nose, this wine is a well rounded fruit ball on the palate. Lush red apple flavors layered with essence of lemon drop fill the mouth. The finish is creamy with light touches of vanilla and toasty oak.
The Vineyards
Our 2007 Vineyard Montage Chardonnay was sourced from Cobblestone and Ventana Vineyards located in the Arroyo Seco appellation, mid-valley in the Salina Valley. Arroyo Seco (Dry River) is known for its well draining silt and rocky gravel based alluvial fans. These soils produce Chardonnay fruit with extraordinary tropical character and crisp acidity.
2007 CRU Vigne Monte Nero Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Higlands
All of the grapes were gently crushed and barrel fermented; 60% of the barrels used were new French oak. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in the barrels, had extended lees contact with bi-monthly stirring. Pale gold with pear, lychee nut and pinnapple aromas with a light layer of clove mark this exceptional vintage. Focus lush pear and tropical fruit flavors are underscored with lemon rind and mineral elements. Smoky notes from the dark toast French oak barrels are layered with the mineral a notes and carry through the long lingering finish.
The Vineyard
Owned by the Maestri family and farmed by Dan and Ray Franscioni – Vigne de Monte Nero is the source vineyard for CRU’s Santa Lucia Highland Chardonnay. Adjacent to many famed Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards (Mer Soleil, Sleepy Hollow, Rosella's, and Double L) Vigna de Monte Nero produces chardonnay with bright fruit flavors and crisp acidity. Our chardonnay is planted predominately to clone 96.
2006 CRU Redding Ranch Chardonnay, Monterey County
The Redding Ranch supplies another winery with the grapes used in their Reserve bottling, and we are the only other buyer of Redding fruit. All of the grapes were crushed and barrel fermented, and 30% of the barrels were new, extra-fine grain Hungarian wood. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in the barrels. Young, with a greenish tinge, the nose is pretty and delicate. Aromas of pineapple, papaya, and citrus peel are typical of this vineyard. Light toastiness in the background aromatics gives way to pineapple and toast in the mouth, with a light butteriness in the finish. This wine will become increasingly expressive and round as it matures in the bottle.
The Vineyard
The Redding Ranch was planted in 1996 and is located just east of the Arroyo Seco, just south of Greenfield, in the middle of the Salinas Valley. The grapes for this wine came from “Block Two,” which is planted to clone 96. We pick our grapes from the middle of the block because the windward side of the vineyard is prone to wind damage, while the leeward side is too vigorous.
