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2020 Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay

2020 Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay
95 Points Int'l Wine Report

The 2020 Woolsey Road Chardonnay consists of ultra premium fruit hailing from the legendary Russian River Valley AVA. Planted in the 1970’s, these 50-year old vines (Old Wente Clone) grown on sandy gold loam fully express themselves with intense tropical notes, oceanic minerality, and bright acidity.

Be sure to chill it down until the lions change color, and then you’ll know you’re at the proper serving temperature! Similar to previous vintages, the full-bodied structure comes from very ripe fruit, native yeast, bâtonnage sur lies, and being unfined and unfiltered. Notes of creamy Maui pineapple, white peaches, jasmine tea, and quince are interlaced with coastal mineral salinity and bright acidity, leading into a long-lasting crème brûlée finish. We are very fortunate to have picked this off the vine the day before the Glass fires began. 

 

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$85.00
 
SKU: HERT20CH7
Wine Specs
Vintage
2020
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Aging
17 months - 90% new French and Hungarian Oak
Alcohol %
14.70
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
"2020 wasn't a total loss in Napa — some producers made very successful wines. Hertelendy Vineyards was one who navigated the waters and made some really great wines. The 2020's from Hertelendy are one of the highlights from the vintage and should not be overlooked." — International Wine Report
Ratings
“The 2020 Woolsey Road Chardonnay is fantastic. It instantly begins with aromas of pineapples, white peaches, crème brûlée, lemon oil, vanilla bean, chamomile tea and subtle hints of a wet stoney mineral character that all take shape. On the palate this possesses a gorgeous rich texture and seamless mouthfeel, with outstanding overall balance of fruit and acidity keeping it fresh and vibrant through the finish. This is a stunning Chardonnay from Hertelendy which is drinking beautifully today, and should waste no time showing its best stuff on release.” — International Wine Report, 95 Points
Awards
"The 2020 Hertelendy Chardonnay Woolsey Vineyard Sonoma County is medium gold; notes of honeycomb were the first aromatic descriptor we noted for this bottling. And like the other vintages of Hertelendy Chardonnay, this wine also offers stone fruits including of apricot and yellow nectarine. The bouquet is both sweetly fruited and ripe. The bouquet is perhaps a bit more floral than some of the other vintages including honeysuckle and guava. The palate is fresh and is dominated by the fruit rather than the oak. This bottling is rich and flavorful; the fruit-filled finish is persistent, accompanied by a light touch of toasted oak. This wine is showing exceptionally well at the time of our tasting, 3.5 years post vintage. Like the previous vintage, this wine was aged for 17 months in primarily new French oak barrels." — Napa Wine Project
Winemaker Notes
“I strongly believe that the best California Chardonnays ever produced were in the 1990’s: big, bold, seductive, provocative…I truly miss that lost art, and am reviving that style with distinguished Hertelendy elegance.” — Ralph Hertelendy