Bravium Rosella's Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 Front Label
Bravium Rosella's Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

Rosella's Vineyard is one of the most renowned plantings in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is owned and farmed by Gary and Rosella Franscioni. Originally planted in 1996, Rosella's has ten acres of Chardonnay, split between Dijon clones 76 and 96. Two acres are allocated to Bravium. The estate's close proximity to Monterey Bay makes for a very cool, Region I climate. The growing season here is one of the longest in California, allowing for full flavor development on the vine. In the winery, whole cluster Chardonnay was gently pressed and fermented in a combination of French and Hungarian oak barrels – most of which had been seasoned for four years. Assemblage was accomplished in May with bottling two months later in July. The wine was not fined and completed a full malolactic fermentation, allowing it to be bottled unfiltered, retaining all of the wine's inherent character and complexity.

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Professional Ratings

  • 90
    Made by Derek Rohlffs and just bottled, the 2014 Chardonnay Rosella’s Vineyard is an interesting effort that was fermented and aged in 30% new European and French oak. It has a bright, juicy, almost racy personality to go with exotic notes of tropical fruits, flower oil, citrus and tangerine. Continuing to open up nicely in the glass, it has a great mid-palate and a clean, crisp finish.
Bravium

Bravium

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Bravium BRAV Plumis Vineyard Winery Image

Created by winemaker Derek Rohlffs, Bravium is the culmination of meticulous care in the vineyards and a patient approach in the cellar. Derek takes his cues from tradition. He doesn’t alter what the earth gives him. He’s a classic minimalist.

But don’t mistake minimalism for apathy. Quietly guiding a wine in a thoughtful, deliberate way—without intervening at every twist and turn—requires diligent attention to detail and a generous amount of restraint. The wine in the glass is born of a deeply purposeful approach. It is a gift of the land, valued and honored.

Derek grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes in coveted cool-climate vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley and Mendocino’s Anderson Valley.

Derek’s minimalist approach translates the nuances of each coastal vineyard in the glass, illustrating a distinct, transparent sense of place in every sip. The result is a collection of compelling, terroir-driven wines that pair naturally with food and have rare aging potential, relative to their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir peers.

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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.

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Santa Lucia Highlands

Monterey, California

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Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.

The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.

BRA151366_2014 Item# 151366