2009 Maison Grand Cru Russian River Valley Chardonnay

The new release of our 2009 Rutz Cellars Maison Grand Cru Russian River Valley chardonnay is a statement of true balance between the harmony of the fruit and ever-so slight touch of oak that it rests on. "Less if better". Keith Rutz has chartered his "proprietary" designation of "Maison Grand Cru" to redefine the limits to which "pedigree" and "style" in a wine can coexist. The "balance" he so often refers to is not only between the fruit and the oak....but carefully crafted towards "style and grace". In order to achieve this "balance" ..one must focus on the "all the elements: sun, stars, air, soil, humidity,....OUR OWN cave temperament (how it reacts).....OUR OWN "Terroir"....No one can duplicate "OUR terroir" and OUR caves! It is PROPRIETARY TO RUTZ CELLARS! Years now of growing minerals inside of our 20 year old caves...it is the air flow within the caves that our barrels rest ...awaiting a new bottling.  High 95% humidity, 59 degree constant temperature constitutes a terroir only of OUR making.  Although the alcohol present in this wine is high (14.4%) it has blown off ever-so gently from the aging in our caves, that it is non-existent or heated --on the palette....thus creating a wine that is "balanced" between the limestone minerals and the touch of French oak in its backround. Great natural acidity is wrapped in its core. This wine IS "seamless" without question.

Tasting Notes:  Ripe citrus grapefruit, lime, and tangerine abuts a framework of limestone minerals in its core with a hint of perfumed violets that touches the senses.

Statistics:
Harvest Dates: Needed
Alcohol : 14.4%
PH: 3.45
Total Acid: 0.56 g/100ml

Download our Release Sheet (pdf)