Winemaker Notes
To achieve these bright fruit flavors, we stainless steel ferment and cellar half of the wine. The remainder is barrel fermented, sur lies, adding creaminess and richness to the final product. The combination of the two results in a wine balanced in fruit and oak flavors. Malolactic fermentation is discouraged to preserve natural acidity, in order to maintain crispness and retain the full fruit characteristics of the wine.
The grapes for this wine are from the portion of Dutton Ranch named in honor of Warren Dutton's wife, Gail Ann. Located adjacent to Russian Hill Estate Winery, this area is known for producing some of the best Chardonnay of the Russian River Valley.
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.