94 Points -
"The 2016 Chardonnay Hartford Court Chardonnay Sevens Bench Vineyard exudes beautiful lemongrass, lime leaves and fresh grapefruit scents with hints of yuzu, wet slate and croissant. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives a cerebral, mineral and earthy character with a citrus core and fantastic vibrancy, finishing long and chalky." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate October 2018
Tasting Notes
True to its Carneros roots, the 2016 Sevens Bench Chardonnay carries the hallmark of the region – fruit intensity balanced by good acidity. The aromas are driven by classic lemon drop, Meyer lemon and lemongrass. That fruit style follows in the flavors, with the citrus focus carrying through with candied lemon drop balanced by the mineral and flint characters inherent to the region and the clonal selections. Barrel fermentation notes in the background add even more complexity to this elegant wine.
Vineyard & Vintage Character
Intensive farming and low yields are the foundations of our Carneros Chardonnay offering. The two blocks farmed for this wine are on a bench with classic Haire clay loam soils, and on a ridge at a 200-foot elevation. This block is part of an uplifted riverbed, which allows good drainage in the traditional clay based soils of the region. The name Sevens Bench is derived from our historical name for our Carneros Pinot Noir and one of the two clones planted on our blocks: Clone 27 (Mount Eden). The other field selections are Calaera, Batto and Entav 809.
Wine Details
Oak: 100% French oak, 12% new
Time in oak: 17 months
Alcohol: 13.9%
TA: 5.4 g/L
pH: 3.45
Yeast: Native
Cases produced: 316
No fining or filtration