Valley of the Moon Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
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Wine Spectator
Fresh, intense and vibrant, with a rich, layered mix of green apple, baked apple, pear and spice, offering light shades of toasty oak and ending with a long, full finish. Drink now through 2016. 1,500 cases made.
Valley of the Moon wines are steeped in the history of Sonoma Valley. The name Valley of the Moon borrows its origin from the translation of the Native American word Sonoma. With a winemaking tradition as rich and deep as the soil where the grapes are grown, Valley of the Moon’s wine program today features all that this region has to offer.
Valley of the Moon has a wine for each palate and pairing. All of the wines highlight the Sonoma region. Find a new favorite Chardonnay – oaked or unoaked – or try the popular Pinot Gris - Viognier Blend. Red wine lovers will enjoy the single varietal Zinfandels, Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Sauvignons. Looking for a crowd-pleaser? Try one of the popular blends: Blend 1887 is jammy, juicy and fun while Blend 1941 is bold, complex and rich. For a special occasion or a connoisseur experience open a bottle of Valley of the Moon Reserve: the winemaking team reserves the best grapes for these fine wines, crafting and aging them with extra care.
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.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.