White Wine
2008 Cold Creek Ranch Chardonnay
89
Wine Spectator
A crowd-pleasing style that's rich and smoky from toasty oak. Intense and full-blown, exhibiting fig, apricot and honeydew melon flavors, with hints of butterscotch, that saturate the palate and linger.
The cool breeze of the San Pablo Bay envelops the southern tip of Carneros and ensures bright fruit and crisp acidity. The Laird Family Estate Cold Creek Ranch Chardonnay is located adjacent the Carneros Highway at approximately 8th Street. Paul Hobbs has chosen the specific blocks for this wine, grown from clones 15 and 95. His goal is to attain optimum ripeness while maintaining the acids, which are so important for the liveliness and aging of the wine.
Production: 1925 cases
Vineyard: 100% Cold Creek Ranch
Appellation: Carneros
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Winemaking Style: 100% malolactic fermentation, 59% new French oak, 10 months of aging in barrels
Alcohol: 14.6%
Tasting Notes:
A captivating wine of rich, gold color, with soft lemon and crème caramel in the nose, and hints of white flower and toasty vanilla. Tropical fruit flavors including pineapple, lime and kiwi are rounded out by a creamy mouthfeel, and a long, toasty oak finish. This bright Carneros Chardonnay marries fresh California fruit aromas and flavors, with the mineral structure and oak balance of fine white Burgundy.
