Nose
The final blend offers intense fruit aromas of ripe pear and orange liqueur, complemented by a layer of toasty oak.
Palate
Bright apple and citrus flavors give way to a fullbodied texture and a long finish.
Growing Conditions
The Schug Estate vineyard, planted in 1989, sits at the base of a high ridge at the windy Western edge of the
Carneros AVA in Sonoma County. The Wente clone grown on Northeast-facing Blocks 3 and 5 has a smaller berry which gives the wine a rich texture when young, and in time develops an oily, succulent mouthfeel. An addition of "Musqué" clone Chardonnay grown on our rocky Southeast-facing Block 7 gives the wine a rich aroma and flavor of ripe citrus.
Winemaking
Each block is harvested, fermented and aged separately. 100% barrel fermented and aged “sur lie” for 7 months. All barrels were protected from malo-lactic fermentation.
Aging
10% in new French oak, 90% in 2nd fill barrels.
Food Pairing
Try with shellfish, cream soups, chicken, veal, or rich pasta dishes.
