SILENT-Fine Wine

Item Description

This set of 4 Chardonnays from Chateau St. Jean includes:

2015 Le Seul Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

The 2015 vintage hails exclusively from the incredible Gap's Crown vineyard in the Pataluma Gap area of Sonoma County. This stunningly beautiful vineyard is located on teh western edge of Sonoma Mountain and ranges from 300' to 840' feet in elevation. Heavily influenced by cool ocean breezes and a natural fog pocket that stalls over the area, it allows the fruit to ripen slowly over the growing season. This balances the sugar development and phenolic ripeness.

Highly regarded Dijon clones were selected for this wine. Chardonnay ENTAV clone 548 (55%), a low-yielding Chardonnay clone with small clusters brings concentrated aromatics of tropical fruits and great depth to the wine. Dijon clone 124 (45%) ripens later, lingering on the vine to bring mineral notes and a tight structure.

This third vintage of Le Seul Chardonnay has incredible depth, richness and offers lifted notes of quince, lemon creme, white pineapple with hints of cinnamon spice. A full-bodied rich and round wine yet a cool climate expression of elegance and white peach, Asian pear and delicate white pepper flavors with minerality throughout. Tightly structured with well-integrated oak and balanced with bright acidity leaving a long, flavorful finish.

2015 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Valley

The celebrated Durrell Vineyard is located in the northwestern corner of Sonoma, in Carneros - this is a cool climate region noted for its highly acclaimed Chardonnay fruit. The Durrell vineyard receives the cooling breezes and morning fog from the nearby San Pablo Bay and Pacific Ocean and also basks in the plentiful afternoon sunshine.

Classic winemaking techniques of barrel fermentation and sur lie aging are used in crafting this single vineyard designate Chardonnay. Clonal selection plays an important role in the final blend, with both Cline 5 and Clone 15 being used exclusively. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine spent 15 months in 100% French oak barrels (45% new).

The Chateau St. Jean Durrell Vineyard Chardonnay is a vibrant, generous wine with bright aromas of ripe white pear, toasted brioche, Meyer lemon and Creme Brulee. The nose lead to a rich, round and textured mouthfeel where the fruit flavors are underpinned by toasted hazelnut and sweet vanilla spice notes. The overall elegance of the wine offers a pleasing cool climate structure, is well-balanced with bright acidity and has a long, lemon-oil finish.

2016 Bell Terre Vineyard Chardonnay Alexander Valley

Chateau St. Jean has been producing Belle Terre Vineyard Chardonnay since 1975. The Belle Terre Vineyard terrain consists of gently rolling land with well-drained, gravelly and sandy loam soils. Warm spring temperatures and even weather throughout the growing season led to an earlier than normal harvest for most of Sonoma County.

The fruit for this wine is whole cluster pressed and immediately sent to barrel for fermentation. After fermentation, the wine is aged in small French oak barrels. The fruit-forward nature of this wine is enhanced by the malolactic fermentation process it goes through, producing a well-structured yet elegant wine.

This wine offers bright aromas of peach, lemon curd and notes of sweet vanilla spice. The wine is medium-bodied with a rich palate. Well-structured and balanced by a core of ripe fruit characteristics and line of racy acidity. The mouthwatering flavors of Meyer lemon sorbet and pineapple linger on the long finish.

2016 Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay Alexander Valley

Chateau St. Jean has crafted this single-vineyard wine for nearly 40 years and the classic Chardonnay fruit comes from the famous Robert Young Vineyard of Alexander Valley. This wine is approachable, bright and surprisingly, very age worthy. It captures the true hallmarks of Sonoma County Chardonnay.

Several different vineyard blocks of Chardonnay were harvested individually on different days, with each block and harvest day kept separate throughout the winemaking process. Classic winemaking techniques were used, including barrel fermentation and sue lie aging exclusively in small, French oak. As in past vintages, he wine is made in a non-malolactic style.

This classic Sonoma wine offers the hallmark aromas that are so distinctive to the Robert Young vineyard; bright lemon citrus, ripe stone fruit, and lanolin. The inviting aromas lead to a full mouthfeel where the palate is filled with flavors of peach, fresh Meyer lemon, hazelnut and subtle nutmeg spice. The wine offes the classic Robert Young Chardonnay creamy texture, bright acidity and long-lasting lemon oil finish.