2009 Patz & Hall "Dutton Ranch" Russian River Valley Chardonnay

One 750ml bottle

Produced from some of the oldest plantings of Chardonnay in western Sonoma County, this wine is predominantly a blend of California heritage clones and selections—Robert Young, Rued, Hyde-Wente, UC Davis clone 4 and Spring Mountain. Mostly dry-farmed, the vines struggle to produce small but intensely concentrated berries, making for great depth of flavor and texture. Historically, this vineyard yields fragrant, tropical aromatics, underscored by a crisp mineral character. 
 
The nose of this wine offers penetrating high-tone floral and tropical notes with a beautiful spicy element. The use of a little more wild yeast in ‘09 has also accentuated layers of hazelnut, graham cracker and peach cobbler in the aromatics. On the palate, this is one of the richest and most deeply-textured expressions of Dutton Ranch Chardonnay we have produced, highlighting lush flavors of peach, pear, green apple and marzipan. A product of another exceptional growing season, this wine balances the flamboyant character often associated with a warmer vintage, with the bright acidity and sleek minerality more common in cooler years. 

Hazelnut, graham cracker, peach cobbler, peach, pear, green apple, marzipan