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. The challenging 2008 growing season began with unusually dry weather in late winter and spring with unexpected frost in late April. As the vines were beginning to bloom in May, an extended heat wave set a smaller crop than normal in the vineyards. However, 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 earlier than usual in August and picking rapidly increased as a heat wave in early September caused wine grapes to quickly ripen. The weather cooled in late September and harvest was complete by the end of October with minimal challenges. Yields were lower than previous vintages, but the result was fruit of excellent quality with intensity and depth.

  

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

  

Flavors of green apple, orange zest, and apple pie, which are complemented by buttery and toasty notes. Nutty and rich, the wine finishes with a silky, full mouthfeel.

   

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