Tech Notes
Wine Details
By Iron Horse
2022 Heart of the Vineyard Chardonnay
Winemaker's Note
Harvested from our finest estate-grown Chardonnay blocks at the vineyard's core, this blend offers a harmonious balance and a luminous bouquet. Elegantly expressive, it captures the essence of its terroir with refined complexity and masterful craftsmanship.
Artisanal Winemaking
All of our Chardonnay is handpicked and handled one lot at a time. Only as the grapes arrive at the winery do we decide how to treat them. Sometimes, it is straight to the press as whole clusters. For certain lots, we destem, while other times, a cold soak might be necessary.
Precision Winegrowing
At Iron Horse, "Estate Bottled" means the winemaking begins in the vineyard. Our location in Green Valley, 13 miles from the ocean, offers the best soil, climate, and aspects for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Our goal is to grow the finest grapes through what we call "precision wine growing." All pruning, canopy management, irrigation, and cover crop decisions are determined on a block-by-block (and sometimes even vine-by-vine) basis, considering both the vintage at hand and the long-term needs of the land.
Precision Harvesting
Our only rule is to make the best wines we can. We wait until harvest to decide whether sparkling or still, as the only difference is the brix level (or the amount of sugar in the grapes, less for sparkling, more for still). Then, winemaker David Munksgard considers berry size (bigger is better for sparkling, smaller for still), the health of the canopy, clone selection, and even small details such as the relative dampness of the cover crop, which can make a difference. If necessary, parts of a single block may be picked on different days.
Winemaker Tasting Notes
The nose entices with delicate notes of sweet cream, bright key lime zest, and the crisp sweetness of ripe pear. As the wine unfolds, its silky texture and soft, approachable tannins emerge. Juicy stone fruit shines on the palate, complemented by subtle floral undertones and a hint of tart pear at the mid-palate. A smooth, creamy finish lingers, accented by a whisper of oak.
Technical Data
Appellation: Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Blend: 86% Hyde Old Wente Chardonnay, 14% Rued Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.00%
Acidity: 5.1 g/L
Residual Sugar: Less than 2.0 g/L
pH: 3.3
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Barrels: 75% new oak
Harvest Date: September 6, 8, 9, 2022
Date Bottled: February 5, 2024
Suggested Retail Price: $57.00
[Information provided by Matador Vino]
Region:
Sonoma County
Vintage:
2022
Grape:
Chardonnay
Country:
United States
Unit Size:
750.00 ML
Alcohol Percentage:
13.00
Appellation:
Green Valley of Russian River Valley