White Wine Roots Run Deep Educated Guess Chardonnay 2019. Roots Run Deep began in 2005, with a risk. Founder Mark Albrecht had sold his house and all of his possessions, to make enough money to start a winery. Now, Roots Run Deep winery is a Napa Valley institution with a portfolio of vineyards extending into neighbouring Sonoma County. Albrecht’s primary goal is to make great wine at a reasonable price, and he has been quite successful. Roots Run Deep wine is not only a huge hit among discerning Californian consumers, but it has also won numerous awards, including 15 gold medals in San Francisco Chronicle wine competitions. The Educated Guess Chardonnay is sourced from vineyards owned by family growers in the Sonoma Coast appellation. Made from 100% Chardonnay, this bottle is packed with scents of honey, butter, pear and citrus zest. It strikes a perfect balance between the savoury, oaky and spicy notes gained from barrel fermentation and the refreshing acidity and tropical fruit notes from Sonoma’s coastal terroir. On the palate, you can taste clear notes of pineapple, green apple, and hints of a rich butterscotch. It is a food-friendly Chardonnay, ready to be enjoyed alongside a succulent pork dish, or a meaty fish such as salmon or tuna.
2019
White Wine Roots Run Deep Educated Guess Chardonnay 2019
White Wine Brunelli Carianum Garganega 2019. The Brunelli estate has been in the hands of the same family since its foundation in 1936 amongst the gently rolling hills and ancient landscapes of the Valpolicella wine region. These days Luigi and Luciana run the winery along with their son Alberto. This unusual white wine was inspired by the region’s ancient past and takes its name from a Roman family, the Cariae. The Garganega grapes for this wine are harvested late, usually in October, to craft a wine with an intense, aromatic character and great complexity. The harvest is carried out by hand to ensure the grapes reach the winery in perfect condition and the wine is then fermented in oak barrels. In total the wine spends 5 months maturing with the lees in the barrel which adds further complexity and hints of vanilla. As soon as you pour out this remarkable wine you will notice the deep yellow hue and aromatic notes of sage leaves, jasmine, acacia blossoms and ripe apricots. On the palate there is a rich mouthfeel and full body which is complemented by a fresh acidity and ripe stone fruit flavours. The finish is long and fades slowly and gracefully, inviting you to take another sip.
2019
White Wine Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2019. After many long years of working in publishing in Chicago, John Shafer left behind his career in 1972 and moved to Napa Valley to follow his true passion of making wine. He made his first wine in 1978, and pretty soon his son Doug was also bitten by the winemaking bug, joining the new family business in 1983. Today Shafer is one of the few wineries still owned by the original founding family and with an experienced head winemaker, Elias Fernandez, who joined the winery back in 1984. Shafer is best known for its premium red wines crafted from the exceptional hillsides above the property in Stags Leap. They also produce excellent whites like this Chardonnay which comes from the Red Shoulder Ranch in the cooler Carneros region. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean helps to preserve plenty of mouthwatering freshness and aromatics, while the warm sunny days ensure the grapes achieve optimal ripeness. To create an opulent, creamy texture, 75% of the juice used for this Chardonnay is fermented and matured in oak barrels for 14 months. The remainder is vinified and aged in stainless steel. This helps create a rich, punchy Chardonnay that’s bursting with ripe apricot, peach and honeyed notes, a generous rich mouthfeel, and hints of toast and spice that linger on the tongue.
2019