2008 Chardonnay (Paso Robles)

Our 2008 Chardonnay is a bright straw gold color with tangy citrus, green apple and lemon peel flavors and a touch of vanilla spice.   A Sustainability in Practice (SIP) ™ Certified wine.

Featuring aromas reminiscent of fresh green apple with a hint of lime and suggestions of vanilla spice, our 2008 Chardonnay is a bright straw gold color.  In the mouth, the wine shows tangy citrus, fresh apple and lemon peel flavors that echo the aromas.  The wine is refreshingly dry, medium-bodied with balancing crisp acidity and toasty oak that lengthens the finish.  Enjoy chilled by itself or with shellfish, pasta and poultry dishes.

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes
Chuck Hill's Wines of the Week - October 13, 2009. "A barrel-fermented Chardonnay from California's Central Coast...a fresh, approachable style, look for a nose of green apple, butterscotch and citrus, leading to flavors of ripe pear, refreshing tropical fruits and a delicate finish of toasty oak and vanilla." Chuck Hill

Ratings
89 Score - California State Fair Wine Competition 2010 88 Score - Beverage Tasting Institute (BTI), March 2009 88 Score - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, November 2009 87 Score - Wine Spectator, July 31, 2009 "Crisp green apple, lime and citrus ..."James Laube Santé Selection - Santé magazine, June 2009, "Fruit-forward with a bouquet of pineapple, banana, apricot and hints of butterscotch; medium bodied and balanced with well-integrated tannins and hints of lemon zest on the finish." Recommended - Wines Northwest, May 13, 2009

Awards
Gold Medal - Central Coast Wine Competition 2009 Critics Gold - Critics Challenge International Wine Competition 2009 Silver Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Los Angeles International Wine Competition 2009 Silver Medal - San Diego International Wine Competition 2009 Silver Medal - Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2009 Silver Medal - Tasters Guild International Wine Competition 2009 Silver Medal - Orange County Fair Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Dallas Morning News Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal - Riverside International Wine Competition 2010

Vineyard Notes
At Robert Hall, sustainable farming is practiced to preserve our valued natural and human resources. The 2008 Chardonnay qualifies as wine harvested from vineyards that have achieved Certified Sustainability in Practice (SIP) ™. This achievement was earned by accomplishing and documenting 40 sustainable farming practices along with the implementation of additional management enhancements, all verified by independent audit.

Production Notes
Our 2008 Chardonnay was crafted with a goal of maximizing freshness and preserving varietal flavor. Pursuant to this goal, we hand-harvested into small bins in the cool of the morning and completed the short trip to the winery. At the winery, we crushed the fruit to the waiting press and held it there just 3 hours of skin-contact, prior to pressing to the tank where the juice cold settled for 48 hours. At racking, the juice was transferred to barrels, where we inoculated with cultured yeast known for maximizing mouth feel and fruit expression. After fermentation, we performed bi-weekly battonage, a stirring of the lees. Before bottling, the wine received a final racking where the blend was assembled and the wine prepared.

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