2023 River Road Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
Three generations farming premium wine grapes across five estate ranches for over four decades, the Trione family produce small lot, hand-crafted wines showcasing the best fruit from our vineyards.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of citrus zest, green apple, oyster liquor and honeysuckle jump out of the glass. While flavors of nectarine, Asian pear and minerality dance across your palate with a lasting acidity and a backbone of oak.
Retail: $38
Vineyard
The River Road Ranch vineyard is located within the Russian River Valley AVA. The soil composition is Cortina, characterized as deep, well-draining soil composed mainly of gravel/sandy loam. This fast-draining soil leads to stressed vines that focus their energy on the grapes rather than leafy growth, resulting in more intensity and concentration. Certified Sustainable in 2017 (CCSW)
38°29’18.9″N 122°49’00.5″W
Vintage
After a very wet winter, the 2023 growing season was slow to start. Spring was cool and cloudy leading to a delayed and drawn-out bloom in Russian River Valley. Once the vines had set their fruit, the rest of the season continued at a slow and steady pace. Patience was key as most vineyard blocks were three to four weeks behind their typical pick dates. The wait was well worth it as the resulting wines all showcase their natural acidity in perfect balance with fresh fruit flavors and aromas. Seasons like 2023 without large weather fluctuations lend themselves to truly elegant wines.
Winemaking
Our Chardonnay fruit comes from two distinct blocks on our Russian River Ranch. Hand-harvested at night, the grapes are quickly and gently pressed on arrival at the winery. The juice is allowed to settle overnight and then transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation. This stage in barrel is followed by weekly bâtonnage, or lees stirring, to help extract the rich and creamy texture this wine showcases.
Oak: 100% French | Aging: 9 months
