David Bruce Chardonnay Russian River 2015
14.5% ABV
Region
Sonoma County, California, is one of the most important winegrowing regions in the whole of the United States. Vines have been planted here since the 1850s and, apart from the inevitable hiatus brought about by Prohibition, the county`s relationship with wine has been prolific and unbroken. Sonoma Valley is located in the county`s southeastern corner, and effectively mirrors the shape and orientation of Napa Valley just across the Mayacamas Mountains. It encompasses Bennett Valley, Sonoma Mountain and the western half of Carneros – arguably California`s finest "cool-climate" terroir. The Sonoma Valley climate is famously blessed with cooling fog, which rolls in from San Pablo Bay in the summer months. When combined with cooling ocean breezes, this means that Sonoma Valley is sufficiently cool yet sufficiently sunny to create wines which are elegant, bright and intensley flavoured.
Producer
The David Bruce winery was established in the early 1960s and was one of the first pioneering wineries of the region to lead a modern resurgence of premium winemaking. David Bruce purchased land above the fogline in the Santa Cruz mountains after completing his medical residency and set about clearing and planting the vineyard by hand. For 25 years, he divided his time between the vineyard and his dermatology practice until 1985 when he retired from medicine in order to focus on the vineyard. David Bruce Winery was one of the 12 Californian wineries to participate in the now famous 1976 `Judgment of Paris` in which California Cabernets and Chardonnays outscored French Bordeaux and Burgundies in a blind tasting. Today, the David Bruce Winery has 16 acres, 9 of them focus solely on Pinot Noir.
Tasting Notes
The grapes for this wine come from the Russian River area of the Sonoma County. The wine is barrel fermented in a combination of French and American oak and then aged on its lees for 14 months. Pale gold in colour with notes of apricot and pineapple on the nose. The palate has a velvety texture with citrus peel, stone fruits and a creamy, buttery character balanced by a fresh acidity and a mineral backbone.
Food
Serve with chicken in a creamy sauce or excellent with pumpkin ravioli.
