Winemaker Notes
The grapes were hand sorted and gently whole cluster pressed directly into 60% new and 40% once used French oak barrels. The wine was fermented with 100% native yeast. After fermentation the wine went through 100% native malolactic fermentation and was aged sur lies for 12 months with frequent stirring.
The Jewell Vineyard is located on Dutton Ranch in the exceptionally cool Green Valley sub-appellation of Russian River. Originally planted in 1986, this 7-acre vineyard sits adjacent to an organic heirloom apple orchard. Chardonnay Clone 108 is grown here on fine, sandy loam soil upon rolling hills near the West Sonoma County community of Graton.
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.