2009 Lee & Larry's 50-50 - Carneros Chardonnay

Vineyard Character: This limited production wine was crafted for our club members as a 50-50 blend of Chardonnay from two of the Carneros appellation’s most revered vineyards: Lee Hudson’s Hudson Vineyard, and Larry Hyde’s Hyde Vineyard. The inspiration for this wine came from a special auction created in 2007, where we sat down with Lee and Larry to blend a cuvée using our favorite barrels from their two properties. We were so pleased with the results that we decided to do it again in 2009—a spectacular vintage that eloquently expressed the vineyard character of each site. The final blend brings together the richness and density of Lee’s Hudson-Wente Chardonnay, with the ethereal aromatics and lifted floral character of Larry’s Hyde-Wente grapes. In homage to the bigger-than-life nature of these legendary growers, we aged this one-of-a-kind wine in 100% new oak.
Tasting Notes: At this early stage in the development of this age-worthy wine, the dramatic, richly textured character of the Hudson Vineyard fruit is taking center stage, with smoky layers of caramelized sugar, peach and spiced pear supported by more nuanced notes of Hyde-inspired citrus and minerality that should evolve (and underscore this wine’s complexity) with time.
Winemaking:
100% Chardonnay fruit
Whole cluster pressed
100% indigenous yeast fermentations (wild)
Sur lie aged with weekly stirring
100% malo-lactic fermentation in barrel
100% new Burgundian French oak barrels
Bottled without filtration

Average Rating: (From 2 Reviews):
Read Complete Reviews | Submit a Review Read Complete Reviews | Submit a Review