2008 CHARDONNAY
Napa Valley
THE BLEND 100% Chardonnay
PRODUCTION 8,200 cases
RELEASE DATE November 2009
RETAIL PRICE
$26.00
$22.10 Club Price
Quantity discount available
STATS
Harvested ~ September 1 – October 2. 23.5° brix at harvest. 13.6% alcohol. 7.1 gr/1 total acidity. 3.25 pH
WINEMAKING
100% whole cluster press. Natural malolactic completed in barrel and tank. 22% stainless steel fermented and aged. 78% barrel fermented and aged sur lie 9 months in French oak
A BRIEF HISTORY
A favorite verse in the Tao offers: “We shape
clay into a pot but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever
we want. We hammer wood for a house but it is the inner space
that makes it livable. We work with being but non-being is what
we use.”
It is this essential “non-being” that defines our
approach to Chardonnay. As winemakers, we recognize our greatest
contribution is to impose less of ourselves upon the wine, allowing
the Chardonnay its own light, energy, freshness and honesty.
Instead of hammering more wood onto the house, we favor restraint
and modesty in our winemaking.
We are fond of saying that there is nothing more overrated in
Chardonnay than “fruit” and nothing more underrated
than “earth.” With this goal in mind we selected
the Carneros district of the Napa Valley as the primary home
for this wine back in 1982. Pure flavors and a clean mouth-feel
make this wine ultimately refined, elegant and the ideal complement
to a variety of cuisine.
ABOUT THE WINE
Fresh and vibrant, the 2008 Frog’s Leap Chardonnay abandons contemporary trends of big oak and butter for crisp acidity and a bright finish. Aromas of pear and white peaches are layered with delicate notes of honeysuckle and peach blossoms. The wine enters the palate with flavors of green apple, citrus, and a hint of vanilla; all underscored by its racier mineral-and-slate essence. With a finish that is clean and tart, it practically begs for the next sip-making it a great wine to pair with your meal.
WINEMAKERS
John Williams and Paula Moschetti |
