Our Wines Our Wines
2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Our Terroir- The Russian River Valley
The signature cooling maritime influences of the Russian River Valley serve to balance its warm days with cool, refreshing evenings and fog-cloaked mornings. This unique microclimate allows for the slow and even maturation of our fruit, developing distinct flavors in our wines which reflect this great Sonoma terroir.
While the early winter of 2008 was cold and rainy, the early spring of 2009 brought comparably warm and dry conditions. The growing season was not marked by either unusual temperatures or rainfall, allowing even growth and maturation. The end of spring and the summer months were typically moderate and warm with few heat spikes, which provided perfect conditions for the ripening of our Chardonnay grapes. Harvest began in early September, and was complete by the end of October with minimal challenges. Yields were slightly lower than previous vintages, but the result was fruit of excellent quality with intensity and depth.
Winemaking that Captures Our Terroir
At Frei Brothers Winery, we craft wines in a gentle, traditional style enhanced by the use of modern techniques to produce a wine that is both varietally accurate and reflective of the terroir of the Russian River Valley. Our Chardonnay grapes are whole cluster pressed to eliminate bitterness and maximize fresh fruit characters. The wine completed malolactic fermentation, which resulted in a lush texture and deep, layered flavors that express the terroir of the Russian River Valley.
Tasting Note
Our 2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is soft and complex. It reflects its cool climate source with flavors of green apple, orange zest, and apple pie, which are complemented by buttery and toasty notes. With nutty and rich flavors, the wine finishes with a silky, full mouthfeel.
Technical Notes
| Appellation: | Russian River Valley |
| Varietal Content: | 100% Chardonnay |
| Titratable Acidity: | 0.46 g/100ml |
| Residual Sugar: | 0.44 g/100ml |
| pH: | 3.55 |
| Alcohol Level: | 13.99% |
