|
|
 |
 |
|
| Stuhlmuller |
Alexander Valley |
Sonoma |
lemon pith, candied ginger, chalk.
preserved lemons, asian pear, mineral.
smoked salmon, grilled chicken with herbs/garlic, soft mild cheeses.
VINIFICATION
hand picked and sorted on september 21st. whole cluster pressed. cold fermented in stainless steel tanks (NO OAK) using a wild yeast. malolactic fermentation began naturally and completed fully. 3-month fine lees contact. bottled without fining or filtration. 468 cases produced.
SITE
designated block of old vines on flank of russian river. lies at confluence of alexander valley, chalk hill, and russian river valley appellations. ancient alluvial soils composed of sand and gravel, with some volcanic-rock. contrast of morning fog, mid-day sunshine, and afternoon sea breezes produces complex flavors and crisp acidity.
 |
| 3.41 |
.76 g/l |
 |
| 0.07 g/l |
25.4 |
 |
the alexander valley is not known for chardonnay. most of the valley is simply too warm. moving north, the valley opens up wide, exposing the vines to long, intense days of direct sunlight. here you will find heavier clay-based soils well suited to the thicker-skinned red varietals (cabernet, merlot and zinfandel) that put alexander valley on the map.
following this logic, it begs questions about the mythic marcassin chardonnay grown in this very valley. a more detailed survey of this area however, reveals a well-kept secret: the southwestern tip of the alexander valley---where it merges with the chalk hill and russian river valley ava's--- is quite unique from the rest of the appellation, and very well suited to chardonnay. here the valley narrows before falling off, quite literally, into the russian river. as one would suspect, it is appreciably cooler in these parts and largely influenced by the river mesoclimate-soil, temperature, water table, exposure, etc. on this foggy bank just north of the chalk hill gap you will find the stuhlmuller vineyard. and within this distinct vineyard---at its southern-most edge-- you will find lioco's designated block of chardonnay.
"block 1" is the sweet spot in the vineyard. it claims the oldest vines on the property (planted in 1983) and produces the choicest chardonnay clone (wente). the soil is different too-a blend of ancient alluvial soils formed during thousands of years of alluvial fan movement and flooding. there is sand, gravel, volcanic rock, and smooth, melon-sized river stones. the soil itself imparts a distinctive "mineral" quality to the fruit, one of this vineyard's signature characteristics.
the lioco 2006 chardonnay "stuhlmuller" is a much different animal than last year. we willingly paid a premium for the fruit this year in exchange for a significant reduction in grape yields (from 5-tons per acre to 3-tons per acre). so, there is a lot less wine, but a noticeable increase in amplitude. we also let the whole thing go au natural. wild yeast fermentation, naturally occurring malolactic fermentation, and no fining or filtration. this wine, comparatively, has more resonance than the 2005. the hallmark aromas and flavors of this vineyard are here---the lemon pith, the candied ginger, the asian pear, the chalk-but they seem to be delivered with more clarity.
last year, we blew through 1000 cases. this year, we have a mere 468 cases for the world. won't last long…
| kevin kelley |
468 |
|
| now through 2010+ |
view | | |
