Images of the workers staking out our new Chardonnay block at Lafond Vineyards and the beauty of the surrounding Santa Rita Hills. The hills are green and in a few short weeks they will be brown again. We enjoy them now, but we also enjoy them when the rains have gone and they revert to their natural state — It means summer is here.
Click images to enlarge:
The nobel grape Riesling is enjoying a well earned resurgence of popularity in America as increasing numbers of writers and chefs become enamored with the wine’s flavors and suitability for pairing with a wide range of foods.
Peer through the fog of history and remember Riesling was really one of the first grapes that showed the promise of the Santa Ynez Valley for fine wine growing back in the middle 1970’s. Pierre Lafond planted the first block of Riesling in our Lafond Vineyard in 1972 and winemaker Bruce McGuire has crafted several styles of this wine since his arrival to finish the 1981 harvest.
Recognizing that residual sugar (r.s.) marks the style of each Riesling we produce, either the word “dry” or a number representing the amount of r.s. in the wine appears on the label under the AVA designation.
The amount of r.s. in each style may vary slightly from year to year as Bruce balances this sweetness with the natural acid level that a particlar vintage achieved. The “1.7″ style happens to be the most versatile style of Riesling we make.
Very good for sipping by itself on a warm day (though we would have a plate of light cheeses and nectarines handy) it is also a great choice for Pacific Rim cusine featuring spicy curry, much of the cuisine from India, and pork sausages, especially when served with a German sensibility.
Because of the firm acidity, our Riesling also rewards ten years of aging to gain that special “aged character” good Riesling attains.
Suggested retail 18.00/750ml
This limited bottling of Chardonnay is grown in a two acre, low vigor section of the Lafond Vineyard’s 6 acre Wente Clone Block that was planted in 1976.
The age of the vines and the difficult growing conditions (low nutrient marine sand and gravel that retains very little water) combined with one of the world’s best micro-climates for Chardonnay sets the stage for a powerful expression of depth and fruit intensity.
The grapes were picked on September 30, just over two weeks later than average. 2005 was finally a harvest of bountiful grape yields and we able to harvest a more normal amount of fruit from this vineyard section where yields are always meager.
Not only is this a vineyard selection, but it is also winemaker Bruce McGuire’s selection of barrels showing the greatest flavor intensity from our Wente Clone Block. The wine was aged 10 months in eleven barrels, uncracked and sur lees. Chardonnay showing the depth and richness of this wine is a special treat with rich foods such as pork roast, lobster or salmon. Also try it as an appetite inducing pre-meal delicacy.
This wine should show full development in 2009 and be a delight through 2011.
261 cases produced. Retail 40.00(750ml) To order
Recent Comments