Growing Conditions
Called “one of the great Grand Cru Chardonnay sites in California” by Robert Parker, the Charles Heintz Vineyard sits upon a ridgetop along the rocky Sonoma County coastline. The 30-year-old vines, planted on the desirable Gold Ridge Sandy Loam top-soils, ripen slowly, cooled each evening by the fog that rolls in from the nearby Pacific Ocean. This slow, even ripening process results in beautifully balanced wines with fully developed flavors and fresh acidity. The vineyard site has been in the Heintz family for over 100 years, and since its planting in 1982 has become a name synonymous with the best of California Chardonnay.
For Amici, the 2017 wine grape harvest will truly be remembered as a harvest of teamwork and dedication showed on all levels from our team, colleagues, friends and the first responders that saved our homes and livelihood. Almost all of our grapes were unaffected by the wildfires and this vintage is showing great promise with excellent quality, vibrancy and complexity to drink young or show through the years.
Winemaking
A classic Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay with gorgeous aromas of apricot, white peach cobbler, crème brûlée and baking spice. The richly textured palate shows the lovely warm stone fruit notes along with lemon zest, pineapple juice and passion fruit flavors. Hints of caramel, marzipan and apple galette carry through the finish, perfectly balanced with mineral acidity.
Aging
100% Barrel Fermentation; Full Malolactic; 100% French Oak; 40% New
