2017 CHARDONNAY
Mendocino county
VINEYARDS: The vineyard sourcing comes exclusively from a special, sustainable vineyard in Potter Valley, Mendocino County where the vines crop only 4-5 tons per acre. This results in a wine that is varietally expressive, with or without food.
This vibrant, flint colored Chardonnay illustrates its unoaked composition in appearance as well as profile. The aromas of the wine display ripe citrus and tropical notes such as guava and passion fruit. There is subtle clove spice underneath which is expressed as varietal with a key lime scent. The palate is a mouthful of fruit from apricot to Fuji apple, to dried pineapple & ripe casaba melon. The finish furnishes a lovely, silky honey texture adding to the ripe apple, which together coats the palate elegantly.
VINE AGE: Average 15 year-old vines YIELDS/ACRE: 5 tons per acre
WINEMAKING DETAILS: The wine was vinified separately in stainless steel fermenters and finished with no Malo Lactic. The grapes were picked at 23 Brix, as we like a balanced Chardonnay with the focus on fruit and natural acidity. This wine did not see any oak during its fermentation or maturation.
VINEYARD AND CANOPY MANAGEMENT: Leaf removal after bunch closure to promote ripening.
Alcohol: 13.5% – refreshingly balanced in today’s world of high-alcohol wines.
ABOUT LAELY HERON & HERON WINES
An unconventional childhood – living in mining towns on four continents – fostered Laely’s love of travel, adventure and a desire to explore and to experience the cultures, foods and wines of the world. Wanderlust and curiosity have led her on many paths including studying winemaking in Bordeaux, opening a restaurant and importing wine in Denmark, and pursuing Master of Wine studies.
With this love of wine and an entrepreneurial spirit, she started Heron Wines in 1994 with little more than a credit card, a "business plan" sketched out on a napkin, and an idea to make great and affordable wine. When she started Heron Wines, it was unusual for an American woman to be making her own wine in France. Now Heron Wines is making wine in three countries. From the beginning, the goal has been simple: for each wine, find the best vineyards and the best regions wherever in the world they may be.
Even today, Laely continues her global exploration to make distinctive and delicious wines from the best places on earth.
