Nose
Fresh aromas of kumquat, Meyer lemon peel, apple, orange
blossom and cream.
Palate
A crisp palate of tangerine, pear, cantaloupe and
mango. Aged entirely in stainless steel, this unoaked Chardonnay has a refreshing
and vibrant acidity.
Growing Conditions
Grapes for the Folie à Deux 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay were carefully selected from
the Russian River Valley appellation. Cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean blankets the
region’s vineyards, reducing temperatures by 35 to 40 degrees at night and fostering
a long, even growing season. Cool-climate fruit from the Russian River Valley yields
Chardonnay wines that fuse the Old World style of Chabils and the Cotes d’Or of
Burgundy with the New World style of California’s warmer growing regions.
Harvest
The 2014 vintage in the Russian River Valley was quite warm with an early harvest,
which allowed early ripening varieties like Chardonnay to avoid the typical challenges
posed by late-season rain and moisture. The Russian River Valley’s wide range of
alluvial soils—composed primarily of gravel, loam and sand—provides essential
water drainage while retaining sufficient moisture and nutrients to support the vines
during the appellation’s long growing season. Abundant sunshine during the ripening
period lent a bright hue to the grapes, which required careful and gentle pressing in
the winery to avoid extracting excessive bitterness and astringency.
Winemaking
Once harvested, the wine was fermented
at 50 degrees in stainless steel to preserve the purest expression of the grapes in the
bottle. The crisp and rich fruit flavors displayed in this Chardonnay are characteristic
of cool-climate fruit from the Russian River Valley.
Appearance
The Folie à Deux 2014 Unoaked Chardonnay is bright and vivacious, showcasing a
golden hue in the glass.
Food Pairing
For a delicious pairing, try this wine with crab cakes or a creamy
chicken salad with mango and macadamia nuts.
