Finally a White - J. Lohr Estates Chardonnay

While I just love my big and bold reds, I have been tasting a lot more whites lately.  The 2011 J. Lohr Estates Chardonnay is one of this wineries vintages in the last twenty years.  There was above-average rainfall and unseasonably cool summers that produced an outstanding varietal. 

The Chardonnay shows ripe apple, citrus, and nectarine flavors with high levels of natural grape acidity.  By incorporating higher levels of malolactic fermentation to balance the acidity, they created a wine with intense vatietal character, palate weight and palate-cleansing acidity. 

WINEMAKER'S COMMENTS
This elegant Chardonnay has an attractive pale strawyellow color. The aromas are of nectarine, pear and apple, combined with a perfumed roasted hazelnut and butterscotch bouquet from the barrel fermentation and sur lie aging. The flavors are very soft with ripe pear, tangelo citrus and vanilla toastiness, producing layers of complexity with a silky balance of fresh fruit acidity and palate weight.
—Jeff Meier, Winemaker

FOOD PAIRINGS
Pair with dishes such as lobster pappardelle with chive butter, grilled late summer vegetables and creamy butternut squash soup.

WINE LIST DESCRIPTION
A full-bodied Chardonnay with a balance of fruit and oak toastiness and a palate-cleansing acidity.


Visit their website at www.jlohr.com

 

Appellation	Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, CA
Composition (Blend)	100% Chardonnay
Harvest dates	September 26 - November 4, 2011
Brix at harvest	24.3°
Vinification
Malolactic	50% in barrel
Maturation	Aged 8 to 10 months in barrels from new to fourth fill. Barrels were stirred every two weeks until pump-out
Barrel type	American, Hungarian and French oak
Bottling chemistries
pH	3.57
Total acidity	0.67
Alcohol	13.55
Residual Sugar	0.39%
Cellaring	Drink now, or cellar up to 5 years