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The Vineyard ~
This expressive Chardonnay combines fruit
from older vines of two of the most prized vineyards in the Russian
River Valley appellation. Blending grapes from Dutton Ranch’s cool
“Sullivan Road” site in the Green Valley, with fruit from the Ritchie
Vineyard, the 2004 Destino Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a
complex, Burgundian-inspired wine. Located near the town of Graton,
Warren Dutton planted the Sullivan Road Vineyard in 1973 with a
selection of the Old Wente clone of Chardonnay. Today, these mature
33-year-old vines, grown in dusty loam, are remarkably self-limiting,
producing consistently low yields of 1.5 to 2.5 tons per acre of rich,
structured fruit. Offering a warmer interpretation of hillside grown
Russian River grapes, the Ritchie Vineyard was planted in 1974 to a
Robert Young field selection of three clones: Old Wente, Musque, and a
mystery clone. Grown in well-drained rocky soils with outcroppings of
volcanic ash and powdery topsoil, these vines produce low yields of
complex fruit with perfumed aromatics and bright acidity.
The Wine ~
Combining the nuanced character of Dutton
Ranch with the vibrancy of the Ritchie Vineyard, the 2004 Russian River
Chardonnay has been handcrafted to reflect ripeness and seamless
balance. The grapes were pressed in whole clusters, utilizing a
membrane press in order to gently juice the fruit without breaking the
skins, seeds or stems. Next, the juice was settled for 36 hours and
racked for fermentation in French oak barrels. Primary fermentation was
conducted at approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit to promote a long,
slow development of the fruit. To add complexity, three distinctive
yeasts were employed: a Montrachet selection, CY3079 and native. The
wine underwent 100 percent malolactic fermentation, with the lees being
stirred twice weekly. The 2004 Russian River Chardonnay was aged for 15
months in barrel and was given an additional year of bottle aging to
allow the wine ample time to fully integrate. To ensure quality and
attention to detail, only 612 cases were produced for the 2004 vintage.
Tasting Notes ~
Inspired by the great whites of
Montrachet with their signature mix of finesse, lightness, body and
bouquet, the 2004 Destino Russian River Chardonnay is sophisticated and
balanced. The wine begins with soft aromatics derived from the Musque
clone, before delivering rich notes of vanilla, ripe pear and apple on
the palate.
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