Pine Ridge Stags Leap Chardonnay 1999
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
VINEYARD: San Pablo Bay marine influences combined with the unusual geography of Stags Leap District provide moderate temperatures, foggy mornings, and warm late afternoons throughout the growing season. This unique climate results in slow, even fruit development on the east and north facing sites of our vineyard and enhances the cool growing conditions found in the Stags Leap District. Three different soil types, Perkins gravelly loam, Boomer gravelly loam, and Kid loam, typify the shallow topsoil that overlays the igneous and rhyolitic shale of the upland slopes of this vineyard.
WINEMAKING: Pine Ridge estate-bottled Chardonnays are 100% barrel-fermented, 100% malolactic, and aged in contact with their yeast lees. After hand sorting, the grapes were whole cluster pressed. The juice was racked to new, heavily-toasted French oak barrels for native yeast and malolactic fermentation. Aged on the yeast lees for nine months to add creamy, yeasty flavors and texture, the wine was bottled in July 2000.
TASTING NOTES: Silky layers of tropical fruits surface with a hint of creamy oak throughout the long, smooth finish in this medium-full bodied, bright yellow Chardonnay. Enjoy now or cellar for five to ten years.
Founded in 1978, Pine Ridge Vineyards sits in the heart of the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, tucked beneath of ridge of pines that speak to the dramatic geologic origins of our home and unique soils. For over 40 years the winery has become a pioneer farming and vinifying Bordeaux grapes with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Pine Ridge Vineyards farms a collection of 160 acres of Napa Green sustainably certified estate vineyards across Oakville, Rutherford, Howell Mountain and Carneros, including 47 acres in the Stags Leap District.
The winery’s Chenin Blanc + Viognier bottling started out as an experimental blend over twenty-five years ago and is now one of the most beloved and highly acclaimed white wines available. Original and unique, this fresh white wine blend is crafted to be fresh, fruity and easy to pair and enjoy. The wine has also inspired a Pine Ridge Sparkling wine also made with Chenin Blanc and a splash of Viognier.