2006 Failla Chardonnay Keefer Ranch

Ehren originally chose this grape source, located in Green Valley, the coolest part of the Russian River Valley, for its potential to achieve a leaner, French-style, Chardonnay. This fruit was picked in early October and whole-cluster pressed into French oak barrels, only one-third of which were new. The wine’s long slow fermentation on native yeast produced complex aromas of white peach, pear, grapefruit and wet stones, the last a classic hallmark of Chablis. Malolactic fermentation balances the wine’s crisp mouth-watering acidity with plush viscosity for a lingering finish. Uncharacteristically age-worthy for a Chardonnay, this wine should still drink well in 4-6 years.