1999 Ultra Premium Chardonnay
The Vintage
What a glorious vintage! Great fruit was harvested from most Washington State vineyards across the board. The better estates were rewarded with superb fruit. Again, weather conditions throughout the season were optimal. Therefore, vineyards which focused on quality rather than quantity were blessed with grapes perfect for winemaking. Carefully monitored vineyards harvested grapes bursting with ripe flavors and aromas and healthy acidities.
The Vineyard
We reverted back to utilizing pure Kestrel View estate vineyard Chardonnay grapes from our "old vine" block. Planted in 1972, these vines represent some of Washington State's oldest Chardonnay. This vineyard is also quite unique in that it is quite probably the only planting of the "Wente" clone in the entire state. The Wente clone is known for being very stingy from a quantity standpoint. In other words, it is a "shy bearing" clone of Chardonnay. Should one be interested in growing grapes for maximum quality using reduced quantities of fruit, the Wente clone fits the bill. The "other" clone used in our fair State is regularly cropped around 5 to 6 tons per acre. We find our yields in the 2.25 to 2.75 tons per acre. The Wente clone fruit also possesses a different flavor and aroma profile. While still showing the pear, honeysuckle, citrus and floral notes like the "other" Chardonnay clone, the Wente clone offers nutmeg, clove and a slight Muscat notes for good measure.
The Winemaking
All fruit was hand picked and sorted prior to being gently whole cluster pressed. Many wineries press the grapes in hopes of achieving a yield of 170 to 180 gallons of juice per ton. We stop pressing in the 135 to 145 gallons per ton range. Pressing too hard at higher pressures results in a juice possessing a bitterness which will ultimately need to be "fined" out of the wine. Better to return that portion of juice not pressed out of the grape to the vineyard than diminish a wines potential by over processing. Upon settling for two days, the clear juice was racked to French oak barrels where fermentation was completed. The young wine was aged on the yeast sediment for ten months, lightly filtered and bottled.
The Wine
Kestrel's 99' Chardonnay represents quite the mouthful. Rich and luscious with the ripe pear, nutmeg, clove and honey flavors and aromas lingering for what seems an eternity on your palate, this wine shows Washington State's full Chardonnay potential. This wine has the stuffing necessary to stand up to most any of you favorite foods whether it be Pacific Rim, Creole or Burgundian in origin. As with all Kestrel wines, this Chardonnay has received what we feel is the proper amount of bottle age prior to releasing it to our patrons. That translates into sixteen months at the time of release.
| PH |
|
3.41 |
| TA |
|
6.1 g/liter |
| ALC |
|
13.7% |
| RS |
|
1.0 g /liter |
| Blend |
|
100% Kestrel View Estate Vineyard Chardonnay |
| Cases |
|
580 |
| Release Date |
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Kestrel Signature Edition Wines
Kestrel Winemaker Select Wines
Kestrel Ultra-Premium Wines
Kestrel Table Wines
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