2013 The Nth Degree Chardonnay

MAY 21, 2015
CELEBRATE NATIONAL
CHARDONNAY DAY WITH
CALIFORNIA’S FIRST FAMILY OF CHARDONNAY
ESTD
1883
®
E S TAT E GR OWN
C H A R D O N N AY
L I V E R M O R E VA L L E Y · S A N F R A N C I S C O B AY
2013
V I N E Y A R D S
“Morning Fog Chardonnay is an great expression of Livermore Valley Chardonnay, with diverse
alluvial fans of soil consistently creating Chardonnay with beautiful and lingering minerality, which
coupled with the natural acidity from the long and cool growing season, creates a beautiful wine”
- Karl D. Wente, Fifth Generation Winemaker
V I N E Y A R D
Since 1883, five generations of our family have handcrafted fine wines that express the
very best of our vineyards and winemaking expertise. Our Estate Grown Morning
Fog Chardonnay is named for the morning coastal fog pushed by Pacific wind streams
into the bowl of the San Francisco Bay, and lured inland by Livermore Valley’s unique
East-West orientation. This daily phenomenon moderates the climate to produce
excellent, beautifully balanced Chardonnay. Planted on various Wente clones, which
are all harvested and vinified separately, the variation within the vineyards adds to the
complexity of the wine. Recognized as “California’s First Family of Chardonnay”,
our family was the first in California to produce a varietally labeled Chardonnay made
from our Wente clone. Today, many of the great Chardonnay vineyards in California
are planted with the Wente clone, which originated from our family’s estate.
W I N E M A K I N G
FERMENTATION 50% of this wine was barrel fermented in neutral French,
American and Eastern European oak. The other 50% was fermented in stainless steel
tanks in order to preserve the natural fruit flavors inherent in this Chardonnay.
AGING The barrel fermented portion was aged sur lie for 7 months. Bâtonnage,
the art of stirring the barrels, was performed monthly. This adds a creamy note to the
wine and greatly enhances the texture. From the remaining 50% of the stainless steel
portion, half was aged on lees for 7 months while the other half was racked clean to
preserve the fresh fruit characters.
T A S T I N G
N O T E S
Crisp flavors of green apple and tropical fruit, balanced by vanilla and a touch of
toasty oak from barrel aging. With a mouth-filling body and balanced acidity, this
wine delivers a medium-long, refreshing finish.
VARIETAL COMPOSITION
98% Chardonnay,
2% Gewürztraminer
ALCOHOL 13.5%
pH 3.52
TA 0.68g/100ml
HARVEST DATE(S) 9/25-10/12
BRIX AT HARVEST 23.8
RELEASE DATE July 2014
FAMILY OWNED. ESTATE GROWN. CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE.
5565 Tesla Road, Livermore CA 94550 · 925.456.2300 · WENTEVINEYARDS.COM
ESTD
1883
®
S INGL E V INE YAR D
C H A R D O N N AY
A R ROYO SE C O · MON T E R EY
2013
V I N E Y A R D S
“Our Riva Ranch Chardonnay is a beautifully rich, yet balanced style of Chardonnay that represents
what the Arroyo Seco appellation has to give. Deep, rich soils allow for vines with deep roots,
which help to deliver rich fruit flavors. In addition to the classic Chardonnay aromas of apple and
pear, Arroyo Seco consistently delivers aromas of tropical fruits and stone fruits. This is distinctly a
California style of Chardonnay, but is consistently well balanced with ample acidity.”
- Karl D. Wente, Fifth Generation Winemaker
V I N E Y A R D
For five generations, our family has been dedicated to the art of winemaking and
to the philosophy that the quality of a wine originates in the vineyard. Our Single
Vineyard Riva Ranch Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from our family’s Riva
Ranch Vineyard in Arroyo Seco, Monterey. Arroyo Seco is widely regarded as one of
the best places in California to grow Chardonnay, where we have been growing since
the 1960’s. The cool growing season with the deep gravelly soil ripen the Chardonnay
perfectly, which gives natural balance of sugar and acidity.
Recognized as “California’s First Family of Chardonnay”, our family was the first in
California to produce a varietally labeled Chardonnay made from our Wente clone.
Today, many of the great Chardonnay vineyards in California are planted with the
Wente clone, which originated from our family’s estate.
W I N E M A K I N G
FERMENTATION To compliment the rich flavors, we barrel ferment about 90%
of this wine in a combination of new and 2nd use French and American oak barrels.
Batonnage, the art of stirring the barrels, is performed every three weeks. This
adds a creamy note to the wine and greatly enhances the texture. 10% stainless steel
fermented, which delivers crisp fruit flavors.
AGING Aged sur lie for 8 months in the same French, American, Eastern European,
of varying ages. The barrels are stirred once monthly.
T A S T I N G
N O T E S
Displaying the perfect balance of tropical fruit, acidity and creamy notes of butter,
vanilla and subtle oak from barrel aging, this Chardonnay has a round mouth-feel
and a crisp, long finish.
VARIETAL COMPOSITION
97% Chardonnay,
3% Gewürztraminer
ALCOHOL 13.5%
pH 3.43
TA 0.65g/100ml
HARVEST DATE(S) 10/3-10/20
BRIX AT HARVEST 24.3
RELEASE DATE July 2014
FAMILY OWNED. ESTATE GROWN. CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE.
5565 Tesla Road, Livermore CA 94550 · 925.456.2300 · WENTEVINEYARDS.COM
2013 The Nth Degree
Chardonnay
APPELLATION
VARIETAL CONTENT
WINEMAKER
ALCOHOL
PH
TOTAL ACID
RELEASE DATE
BARRELS PRODUCED
Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay
100% Chardonnay
Karl D. Wente
14.3%
3.35
0.62g/100mL
January 2015
24
VINEYARD: This wine comes from old Wente and new Wente clones of
Chardonnay on the Karl Wente and Herman Wente vineyard blocks. Wente
estate vineyards from Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco, Monterey are
selected for The Nth Degree program because of their consistent
production of exceptional fruit. These elite vineyards receive the utmost
care and attention. They are “ultra-farmed”; every vine receives at least
fifteen passes by hand, whereby leaves, shoots and clusters are removed to
ensure the grape clusters remaining at the time of harvest are of the highest
quality. The water is managed so that the vines are perfectly balanced with
the correct amount of growth to fully ripen the berries for the optimal level
of flavor. The grapes are then hand harvested in the early morning into half
ton bins and hand sorted and crushed into small stainless steel fermenters.
WINEMAKING: The wine was barrel fermented for 11 months in a
combination of French, Eastern European and neutral oak barrels. 100%
malolactic fermentation also took place in the barrel.
AGING: The wine was aged sur lie in the same barrels they were
fermented in. Battonage was performed weekly to increase mouthfeel and
complexity.
DESCRIPTION: This is a beautifully balanced, full-bodied Chardonnay
with aromas of ripe apple, apricot and nutmeg that integrate perfectly with
flavors of tropical fruit, graham and clove. With crisp acidity and a smooth
finish, this is a wonderful example of Livermore Valley Chardonnay.
HISTORY: Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards is the country's oldest
continuously operated family-owned winery. Owned and managed today
by the Fourth and Fifth Generations of the Wente family, the winery draws
from nearly 3,000 acres of estate vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San
Francisco Bay, and Arroyo Seco, Monterey winegrowing regions to make an
outstanding portfolio of wines.
Small Lot
2014 ERIC’S CHARDONNAY
APPELLATION: Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay
VARIETAL CONTENT: 100% Chardonnay
WINEMAKER: Karl D. Wente
ALCOHOL: 13.4%
pH: 3.44
TA: 0.63g/ 100ml
CASES PRODUCED: 1,100
VINEYARD
These grapes come from our Karl Wente and Herman Wente ranches in the Livermore
Valley. The Herman Wente ranch is the site of the original Wente Chardonnay
descendants from which cuttings were selected 20 years ago. The vineyards are planted
in a Livermore gravel soil with excellent drainage. All of the vineyards are sustainably
farmed and hand-harvested in the early morning hours.
FERMENTATION
Primary fermentation was completed in stainless steel tank.
AGING
The wine was aged for 4 months in stainless steel tank.
DESCRIPTION
This unoaked Chardonnay is a favored style of Fourth Generation Winegrower, Eric
Wente. It is clear and bright with medium intensity exhibiting aromas of lemon zest,
green apple, pear, pineapple, and nectarine alongside citrus blossom. An excellent
balance between fruit and acidity make this wine refreshing and food friendly.
HISTORY
Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards is the country's oldest continuously operated familyowned winery. Owned and managed today by the Fourth and Fifth Generations of the
Wente family, the winery draws from nearly 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed estate
vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, and Arroyo Seco, Monterey
winegrowing regions to make an outstanding portfolio of wines.
FAMILY OWNED. ESTATE GROWN. CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE.
5565 Tesla Road, Livermore CA 94550 | 925.456.2300 | WENTEVINEYARDS.COM