Rodney Strong Russian River Valley Limited Chardonnay 2023

From the Winemaker:

An energetic expression of the Russian River Valley showing bright yellow peach and yuzu citrus aromas. On the palate, just ripe bartlett pears with a kiss of creme brulee from sur lie aging in carefully selected French oak barrels. Soft acidity uplifts the wine's full, creamy midpalate. Enjoy this Chardonnay with soft cheeses, roasted chicken and filet mignon.

Production Notes:

The 2023 vintage is not one we will soon forget. A cool and wet winter led to a budbreak 2-3 weeks later than average. Daytime temperatures throughout the growing season continued to be unusually cool, with averages in the low 70s and the warmest days just reaching into the mid 80s. This led to an exceptionally late harvest - over a full month later than 2022 on average, offering the grapes an extended hang time to develop extraordinary complexity and concentration. The evening coastal breezes and morning fog blanketing the Russian River Valley preserved fresh acidity and created beautiful balance with the season's generous ripe fruit flavors.