Jordan Winery Chardonnay Russian River Valley California

Belvedere Estate RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY Chardonnay California from USA, California, Russian River Valley by Belvedere Vineyards & Winery Healdsburg CA

Belvedere Winery specialises in artisinal wines from Northern Sonoma vineyards. For 15 years the owners of Belvedere, the Hambrecht family, have been searching out the best sites to produce wines with a real sense of place. As many of today's wines become increasingly indistinct, Belvedere has made a commitment to produce wines of focus and individuality. Three of California's most remarkable grape-growing sites surround Healdsburg, the location of the Belvedere winery. Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley all lie within 15 minutes of each other yet offer dramatically different micro-climates and are farmed accordingly, matching varieties to locations. This wine was sourced from the cooler sites of the Russian River Valley, and is extremely well balanced with restrained peachy fruit showing hints of vanilla and spice. A crisp, minerally core of fruit provides the backbone whilst the creamy, toasty flavours are the result of barrel fermentation and maturation. A complex and very food friendly wine. (12 x 75 cl)

Papapietro Perry’s foundation is a long friendship among work colleagues with common interests and a driving passion to make fine wine. Ben Papapietro and Bruce Perry met during their careers with the San Francisco Newspaper Agency, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner. As their friendship developed, they discovered they both came from families where Grandpa’s homemade wine was as common on the dinner table as vegetables from Mom’s garden. Their interest in wine spilled into another friendship at work, this time with Burt Williams, a pressman and co-founder of Williams Selyem Winery. In the ‘70s, Ben helped Bert make garragista wine in Bert's garage in Sonoma County. After Williams Selyem was started, Ben and Bruce helped out each year at harvest—and were seriously bitten by the wine bug. In 1980, Ben began producing his own garragista wines and Bruce joined him a few years later. Inspired by his love of French Burgundies, Ben began making Pinot Noir, diligently seeking high-quality grapes to produce his favorite varietal. By 1990, Ben was purchasing Pinot Noir grapes from some of the most highly-regarded Pinot producers in the Russian River Valley. After several years of hearing friends and family praise their homemade wines, in 1998 Ben and Bruce took the plunge and produced their first commercially available Pinot Noir. Although the first release was only 75 cases, it marked the launch of Papapietro Perry Winery. The Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a blend from three carefully-selected vineyards in the appellation including Leras Family Vineyards, Elsbree Vineyards and Windsor Oaks. Although close in proximity each holds its own distinction Papapietro Perry Winery feel they are among the best the Russian River Valley has to offer. Medium-deep ruby colour with aromas of fruit, spice, smoke and earth. Flavours of red cherry, berry, spice, and minerals satisfy the palate while the sweet oak, solid structure, and firm tannins lead to a long and balanced finish. (12 x 75 cl)

The cool climate of the Russian River Valley contributes to Simi's Reserve Chardonnay. The influence of the Pacific Ocean gives the Russian River Valley a long, extended and very moderate growing season. The location of Simi's Goldfields vineyard is perfectly situated within the heart of the Russian River Valley, close enough to the coast the get the benefits of the cool fog, and inland enough to ensure the vineyard will get the degree days that allow the Chardonnay to ripen to perfection every vintage. When Simi planted the Goldfields Vineyard in 1989, Simi opted for field selections rather than the heat-treated clones that make up most post-phylloxera Chardonnay vineyards. The Simi team took cuttings from some of the oldest and best Chardonnay vineyards in California choosing them for the diversity of flavors they would contribute to the wine. Golden straw colour and sandalwood and brown spice aromas, this wine has lemon and other citrus flavors that mingle with the essence of ripe red apple and well-integrated oak. Its pleasing mouthfeel gives way to a long, complex finish. (12 x 75 cl)

Jackson Wine Estates LA CREMA Chardonnay Russian River Valley California from USA, California, Russian River Valley by Jackson Wine Estates (6 x 75 cl)

Part of Jackson Wine Estates, La Crema winery was founded in 1979 and quickly established itself as a pioneer for intensely flavoured Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Russian River Valley is home to La Crema. Here the vineyards are blanketed by cool fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean during the heat of the summer growing season. These moderating conditions are ideal for cultivating Chardonnay with naturally bright acidity and complex flavours. The Wente, Dijon and Rued Chardonnay clones are used in this wine to enhance dimensions of vibrancy and perfumed aromatics. In the vineyard fruit-thinning is undertaken to remove late flowering clusters ensuring even ripening throughout the vineyards. Once ready the grapes are hand-picked from cool climate vineyards, delivered to the winery in small, half ton bins to protect the integrity of the fruit. Once in the Winery a belt delivery system for whole cluster pressing is used to capture fresh fruit flavours and minerality. 100% barrel fermentation and 100% malolactic fermentation take place in French oak barrels, . Next barrel aged sur lie occurs for 10 months with bi-monthly lees stirring for creamy mouthfeel. Finally, the wine is bottled unfiltered to express the pure character of the Chardonnay. Winemaker Melissa Stackhouse had the following comments to make about this wine: 'Peach, mango, Pippen apple and lemon drop meld into a wonderful combination of fruit, which is balanced by hazelnut, ginger and subtle butterscotch. Intense pear, nectarine, and Meyer lemon lead creamy layers into the finish.' (6 x 75 cl)

Jackson Wine Estates LA CREMA Chardonnay Russian River Valley California from USA, California, Russian River Valley by Jackson Wine Estates (6 x 75 cl)

Ramey Wine Cellars RAMEY Chardonnay Russian River Valley California from USA, California, Russian River Valley by Ramey Wine Cellars Healdsburg CA (12 x 75 cl)

Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1993 as a result of Don and Jennifer Hartford's appreciation for the wines, the people and the unique vineyards near their Russian River Valley home. Located in the Sonoma County town of Forestville, the winery is about 15 miles from the cool Pacific coast. Three Jacks Vineyard is a small seven-acre property jointly owned by Joe and Steve Dutton. The Duttons refer to the vineyard as Triple J-S vineyard. We began writing JJJ’s on each barrel, and soon the winery workers began calling the wine Three Jacks, and the name stuck. The vineyard is planted with four very distinctive Chardonnay clonal selections: the Raffo and Rued Chardonnay field selections, Dijon Clone 96 and UC Davis Clone 15. Each clone is picked and fermented separately and only the best barrels from each lot are blended to make the final bottling. This cool vineyard site in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley produces Chardonnay with remarkable personality. Old Wente and Dijon Clones greatly inspire the wine’s floral bouquet and flamboyant fruit qualities. Aromas of Meyer lemon, spiced apple and candied ginger give way to a crushed stone and mineral laden finish. (12 x 75 cl)