Wines That Rock Woodstock Chardonnay 2008
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About the Blend:
Since it is the 40th anniversary of the famous Woodstock Festival, Mark was excited to revisit the legend that the event is and draw upon it. The music of Woodstock celebrates community, individual expression, and breaking with the past. Inspired by this message, Winemaker Mark Beaman created a 'naked' style Chardonnay. Unlike other regions which grow more muted flavored Chardonnays (which are then dressed up with oak and malolactic fermentation), Woodstock Chardonnay is an expression of pure fruit character and the land it was grown on.
About the Producers
Mendocino Wine Co. is dedicated to responsible land stewardship, sustainable viticulture and green business practices that yield superior wines while protecting the environment and supporting local farmers. These goals are reflected in the winery's E3 action plan: "...environmental responsibility, economic viability and social equity." Envisioning the wine industry as a model for all of agriculture, the partners lead by example. The award-winning brands produced by the winery include: Parducci Wine Cellars, Paul Dolan Vineyards and now Wines That Rock. In the spring of 2007, Mendocino Wine Co. became the first winery in the United States to achieve carbon neutral status. In recognition of their leadership, the State of California has twice (2007 & 2009) awarded Mendocino Wine Co. with the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), California's highest environmental honor.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.