|
 The
2008 Barn D’OR Chardonnay grapes are also from Kelly! In April, 2008
frost hit almost all of the Chardonnay at my home vineyard. During one
of my early trips to visit Kelly and my Riesling grapes last year, I
commiserated with him, as we farmers tend to do when we get kicked in
the tail by Mother Nature – and he took me to see the small Chardonnay
damage he had from frost too…well long story short, I got a crush on one
of his smaller hillside blocks and wanted to try a wine and see the
result…again because of this special site and his hand at the art of
growing grapes…the purity of his spirit in caring about every cluster.
The other twist to the wine is that when I was hit by frost in early
Spring I cancelled my barrel order for Chardonnay…by the time I made the
deal with Kelly it was too late to get the barrels I like to use here
from France by harvest…so my plan was to ferment the wine in stainless
steel tank then age it in barrel after the small amount of my Russian
River Chardonnay that didn’t freeze was bottled and the barrels
emptied…but in tasting the wine it didn’t need the oak aging; it had a
beautiful character as it was, different than my Russian River, but
delicious – not the citrus, but more tropical and pear. Not the
complexity and depth of my Russian River Chardonnay, but instead a
brightness and a wonderful pure Chardonnay expression that is a perfect
fit for summer sipping by itself or with any summer dish. The final
kicker was that with no cost from the barrel, I could offer it at a
lower price! I will now make a very small amount of each of these every
vintage…because I love the aromas and flavors….and the creative nature
of making new, fun wines – but also so I can spend time around Kelly
McFarland – in his vineyards, - walking and talking and getting a little
Monterey dirt on these Russian River boots of mine, in the company of a
grape grower I admire. So please enjoy these with your friends and raise
a glass to Friendship! |
