Category:
 
White Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
White Wines
Producer:
 
Paul Hobbs
Label Name:
 
Ellen Lane Chardonnay
Vintage:
 
2013
Country:
 
United States
Region:
 
Russian River Valley (Green Valley), Sonoma County, California
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.3%
Grape(s):
 
Chardonnay
Acidity:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
12-14°C

Awards/Ratings
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 95 pts (2013); Vinous: ~91-93 pts (range reported)

Tasting Note
Pale straw Chardonnay with white tea, lemongrass, daffodil, honeysuckle, baked apple, stone fruit and lime rind. Saline, steely minerality, subtle toasted oak and creamy texture lead to a long, focused finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast chicken, grilled or poached salmon, lobster with beurre blanc, creamy mushroom risotto, triple-cream cheeses (Brie, Vacherin). Asian: miso-glazed black cod, tempura prawns, sushi (tuna/salmon), mild coconut-based curries, yakitori (chicken skewers).

Production Method
Whole-cluster pressed cold; barrel fermented (indigenous yeasts); spontaneous malolactic in barrel; aged ~15 months in French oak (c.56% new) sur lie with periodic bâtonnage; bottled unfined/unfiltered.

Vineyard Info
Ellen Lane is a small, rocky hillside estate in Green Valley (Russian River AVA). Paul Hobbs (founded 1991) produces this single-vineyard Chardonnay showcasing the site’s cool coastal microclimate and mineral soils.