Tag Archives: Whites

2021 Albatross Ridge Cuvée Beton Chardonnay

2021 CUVÉE BÉTON CHARDONNAY

The 2021 Vintage had wonderful warm and mild weather during flowering and bloom leading to above average yields and good fruit cluster uniformity. The 2021 Cuvée Béton Chardonnay is our third vintage to be fermented and aged in our new 100% Amphora concrete vessels. By being completely neutral of any oak this Chardonnay allows us to further view our site in a new interpretation and through a slightly different lens. As we continue to fine tune and evolve we are very excited by the results of working with concrete amphora. 

FOOD PAIRING

Our Cuvée Béton pairs excellent with Oysters, Charcuterie and soft cheeses, shell fish, roasted salmon, risotto and mushroom pizza.

WINE DETAILS

Harvest Date: September 10th-October 10th
Yield: 2.5 Tons Per Acre harvested by hand, night harvest.
Clone: 96 & 15  Ph: 3.21
Brix at Harvest: 20-23.5 Brix      Alcohol: 13%
Vinification: 100% Whole Cluster pressed and fermented in concrete amphora tanks sur lees with no stirring. Full malolactic fermentation.
Aged 9 months in 100% concrete amphora tanks

2019 Albatross Ridge Estate Chardonnay

2019 ALBATROSS RIDGE ESTATE CHARDONNAY

The Estate Chardonnay is our barrel selection of the finest barrels from our four vineyard blocks of Chardonnay planted on 7 acres at our vineyard estate. This Chardonnay from the 2019 vintage was aged for a year in 25% New French Oak and the remaining balance of French oak barrels ranging from 1-3 years of age.This Chardonnay benefits from full barrel malolactic fermentation to balance the very bright apple and citrus flavors that drive a powerful core of stone fruit and deep mineral structure that really hallmark the 2019 vintage from our Chardonnay wines.Compared alongside our 2018 Estate Chardonnay, the 2019 Estate trends toward more brightness and tart mineral expression whereas our 2018 Estate Chardonnay is slightly richer in the mouthfeel and overall weight of the wine.The 2019 Estate Chardonnay will definitely be a wonderful wine to drink now with some air and will reward patient cellaring well past 15 years.

FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

The dense apple, pear and citrus core and rich yet lively mid palate of this wine will pair well with roasted pork chop and bok choy, fettuccine in a cream sauce with seafood and chanterelles, rabbit fricassée and any nice fresh caught fish from wild salmon, seared ahi tuna or swordfish, to our family’s current favorite pairing of macadamia nut crusted Sea Bass.

WINEMAKING DETAILS

Harvest Date: October 5th-24th Yield: 2 tons per acre 
Clones: 96 and 15 Brix at Harvest 22-23.4 Brix Ph: 3.27
Yeast: 100% Native Yeast 25% New French Oak Barrels 
12 Months in Barrel
Unfined and Unfiltered
Alcohol: 13%