Wine Article
2011 Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard
Last edited on 1/25/2013 by Eric
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Vineyard and Winemaking:
2011 marks the inaugural release of our newest estate vineyard acquisition in the Sonoma Coast Appellation. Sharing the same fence line and soil series as our estate vineyard, Lauren, the CIX vineyard shares many distinctive site-specific undertones that make it worthy of a vineyard designation. We planted one of the rarest clonal selections of Chardonnay, which we anticipate to thrive in this site. CIX was one of the last vineyards we harvested in 2011, and as always, the extra days of “hang time” amplified nuances of an already complex grape. Immediately in the nose, there is an aromatic “White Burgundy” tone which is found at this vineyard site, and akin to our Lauren Chardonnay in many ways.
The moderately-cool weather in 2011 influenced the grape flavors and gave us a resultant wine of multi-dimensional parameters. Again, as with all of our vineyards, the grapes were hand picked in the early morning and immediately moved in our refrigerated trucks to the winery. Fermentation was conducted in barrel and took a lengthy four months to complete. The final result is something of an epiphany—complex tones of White Burgundy all made within the climate of the “Sonoma Coast.” This wine was aged in 100 percent new French oak barrels for 12 months, and then carefully racked to tank. As with all of our wines, we let them rest and clarify in tank for another three months before bottling.
Mark Aubert’s Tasting Notes:
The 2011 CIX Vineyard Chardonnay exudes all the elements of what we look for in a Chardonnay: distinctive aromatics, coupled with Gold Ridge soil that lend a varied richness and breadth. Initially, the aromatics reflect the soil influenced minerals, White Burgundian-like nuances in the nose, as well as green tea, and apple baked goods. In the mouth, you will find this 2011 has a lot of the underpinnings of various flavors that makes the vintage very special. The structure is so unique to this Chardonnay that this wine will age for 8+ years. The wine has a slight hazy clarity showing our commitment to minimal interventional winemaking.
Bottled in December 2012
Unfined and unfiltered
2011 marks the inaugural release of our newest estate vineyard acquisition in the Sonoma Coast Appellation. Sharing the same fence line and soil series as our estate vineyard, Lauren, the CIX vineyard shares many distinctive site-specific undertones that make it worthy of a vineyard designation. We planted one of the rarest clonal selections of Chardonnay, which we anticipate to thrive in this site. CIX was one of the last vineyards we harvested in 2011, and as always, the extra days of “hang time” amplified nuances of an already complex grape. Immediately in the nose, there is an aromatic “White Burgundy” tone which is found at this vineyard site, and akin to our Lauren Chardonnay in many ways.
The moderately-cool weather in 2011 influenced the grape flavors and gave us a resultant wine of multi-dimensional parameters. Again, as with all of our vineyards, the grapes were hand picked in the early morning and immediately moved in our refrigerated trucks to the winery. Fermentation was conducted in barrel and took a lengthy four months to complete. The final result is something of an epiphany—complex tones of White Burgundy all made within the climate of the “Sonoma Coast.” This wine was aged in 100 percent new French oak barrels for 12 months, and then carefully racked to tank. As with all of our wines, we let them rest and clarify in tank for another three months before bottling.
Mark Aubert’s Tasting Notes:
The 2011 CIX Vineyard Chardonnay exudes all the elements of what we look for in a Chardonnay: distinctive aromatics, coupled with Gold Ridge soil that lend a varied richness and breadth. Initially, the aromatics reflect the soil influenced minerals, White Burgundian-like nuances in the nose, as well as green tea, and apple baked goods. In the mouth, you will find this 2011 has a lot of the underpinnings of various flavors that makes the vintage very special. The structure is so unique to this Chardonnay that this wine will age for 8+ years. The wine has a slight hazy clarity showing our commitment to minimal interventional winemaking.
Bottled in December 2012
Unfined and unfiltered