Nose
The 2013 Altvs Chardonnay is loaded with honey, dried papaya, and
pineapple aromas. With a bit of air, aromas of sweet hay, flint, and steel
emerge.
Palate
This is a rich wine due to the small-berried clones of the variety
used, and it never feels clumsy or heavy due to the juicy acidity. Because
of a bit of tannin in the wine, it is a Chardonnay that is best enjoyed
between at 10-15 degrees below ambient temperature.
Growing Conditions
Founded in 2005, Altvs produces small quantities of handmade Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon. We source fruit from a handful of serious growers
with hillside and benchland vineyards up and down Napa Valley. Our style
emphasizes balance, fruit purity and intensity.
Fruit for the 2013 Altvs Chardonnay was sourced from Kuleto Estate,
which sits high above the Napa Valley on a ridge that looks directly across
at Pritchard Hill from the East.
Bottling
Bottling Date: December, 2014
Winemaking
Small batches of three old California
Chardonnay ‘clones’ (Wente, Robert Young, and Spring Mountain) and
one newer French clone (809) were harvested over three days. Two of the
batches were crushed back onto their stems to soak for several hours to
pick up maximum flavor intensity and a bit of tannin, while the third was
whole-cluster pressed for maximum freshness. All were barrel fermented
with native yeasts and the malo-lactic fermentation was allowed to
proceed in the two skin-soaked lots.
Aging
15 months in 67% new French Oak (Francois Freres)
