2009 Chateau St Jean Belle Terre Chardonnay, Sonoma County

2009 Chateau St Jean Belle Terre Chardonnay, Sonoma County

Product: 26526
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2009 Chateau St Jean Belle Terre Chardonnay, Sonoma County

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Description

A ripe, cask-fermented (55% new oak) Chardonnay wine from the relatively cool Alexander Valley in Sonoma. The fresh citrus notes are counter-balanced by sweet baking spice and vanilla oak notes, the creamy texture is courtesy of lees contact and a full malo-lactic conversion.

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Critics reviews

Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2009 Chardonnay Belle Terre is a beautifully layered wine. Winemaker Margo Van Staaveren ages the Belle Terre in French oak barrels (55% new) and gives the wine full malolactic fermentation, both of which contribute to the wine’s multiple dimensions of fruit. This rich, creamy Chardonnay should be enjoyed over the next few years. It, too, delivers considerable quality for the money. The sumptuous, layered style works very well.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - Issue#199 Feb 2012 Read more

About this WINE

Chateau St. Jean

Chateau St. Jean

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Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.

Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.

Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.

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