Tech Notes
Wine Details
By Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery
2020 Mother of Pearl Chardonnay, Fort Ross Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview
Winemaker's Note
From our mountain vineyard that overlooks the Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area, Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery produces limited quantities of single-vineyard, estate-grown, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinotage. With spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean less than one mile away, the vineyard is divided into 32 separate blocks, one-half to two acres in size, ranging in elevation from 1700 to 1200 feet above sea level. Owners Lester and Linda Schwartz, with their small crew, began preparing the 52-acre vineyard in 1994. It took them four years of preparation before they could start planting. The year 2000 marked the first vintage from the Fort Ross Vineyard.
Vintage
The 2020 growing season on the coast welcomed normal rainfall levels for the first several months of the year, filling the reservoir and hydrating vineyard soils. A mild spring, with no frost concerns, brought an average-sized crop level. The summer enjoyed steady, mild 80-85 degree temperatures, allowing the grapes to develop ideal complexity and flavors. A warm August allowed harvest to begin earlier, creating wines with freshness, acidity, beautiful fruit, and concentration.
Winemaking
Mother of Pearl, with its captivating, lustrous, iridescent facets, inspired the naming of this Chardonnay made from grapes grown on the highest Fort Ross Vineyard Chardonnay blocks. These grapes were handpicked in small two-gallon picking trays during the cool night hours, then hand-sorted in the vineyard and gently whole-cluster pressed at the winery. After pressing, the juice was put into barrels and underwent primary and malolactic fermentation in a combination of 25% new and 75% neutral French oak. This wine comprises 100% small-berried old Hyde Field selection chosen for its richness and sleek structure. This heritage field selection has full, complex flavors intensified by the small size of the bunches and the berries.
Tasting Notes
Our 2020 Mother of Pearl Chardonnay speaks in voluminous layers of the high-elevation blocks from where the grapes were grown. The slight haze in the golden hue is evidence of subtle stirring of the lees and bottling without fining or filtration. Lemon tart, Key lime, and subtle white peach aromas are backed by noticeable rocky undertones and a hint of salinity. While possessing unquestionable weight and concentration, this wine teases the palate with flavors of creme brulee and poached pear, adding richness. A chalky, flinty mid palate creates a complex, multidimensional experience. As if a signature from the windswept and fog-laden vineyard, this Chardonnay finishes with lively, fresh acidity and a mineral-driven backbone, suggesting a long life ahead.
Technical Details
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast
Vineyard: Fort Ross Vineyard
Selections: Hyde field selections
Aging: 11 months in 100% French oak; 25% new oak barrels
Harvested: Sept. 13 - 19, 2020
Bottled: End of August 2021; unfined and unfiltered
Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni
[Information provided by Matador Vino]
Region:
Sonoma Coast
Vintage:
2020
Grape:
Chardonnay
Country:
United States
Unit Size:
750.00 ML
Alcohol Percentage:
13.50
Appellation:
Fort Ross-Seaview