2005 Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay

Winemaker's Notes

Wine:
Our 2005 Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay marries the rich full flavors of ripe apple, pear, and pineapple fruits with a hint of vanilla. The mouthfeel is rich with juicy flavors of peach and mango brightened by lively acidity along with toasty, buttery notes followed by a crisp, clean finish. A delicious complement to almost any meal including grilled chicken, fresh salmon, or lighter pasta dishes.

To ensure that the grapes are gently squeezed and allow the natural fruit character to shine through, a gravity fed, whole cluster press is used for 100% of our Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay. This also eliminates the bitterness that typically results from crusher-destemmers. The juice was fermented in both stainless steel stave tanks and barrel, and underwent 100% malolactic fermentation, lending it a buttery flavor that complements its crisp, clean finish. After fermentation, a portion of the wine was aged in American, French, and European oak barrels to impart subtle hints of oak flavor.

Land:
The 2005 growing season began with unusually cold and rainy with a heat spell in mid-March which started the growing season early. The rain continued sporadically through June, with summer temperatures rarely rising above 90° F. Although the rain held out until late October, the vineyards were able to catch the sun and heat they needed, resulting in one of the largest crops on record. The long, cool growing season of 2005 was ideal for developing premium Chardonnay grapes with good complexity, maturity and flavor.

Family:
At the core of the Gallo family’s history in winemaking is a very definite philosophy on how wine should be made. Today this philosophy is being carried forward by third-generation Gallo family members responsible for the production, marketing, and sales of our wines. This approach to winemaking mandates that the Gallo family is personally involved with the vine and its grapes throughout the growing season to maximize the quality and character of the fruit they use. Only with this care and attention to the vine and its fruit does the Gallo family believe that they can make the best wine possible. Similarly, the Gallo family firmly believes that “no stone be left unturned” in the pursuit of growing the best wine grapes possible for their wines. The family devotes an unparalleled amount of passion and commitment to this task.

Grape Source:  Sonoma County
Varietal Content: 98% Chardonnay; 2%
Mixed Varietals
Titratable Acidity: 0.54g/100ml
Residual Sugar: 0.38g/100ml
pH: 3.44
Alcohol Level: 13.5%