2023 Special Selection Chardonnay

This 2018 Russian River Valley Special Selection Chardonnay is the first Special Selection from Bricoleur Vineyards. The wine is a rich gold color and has notes of caramel, lemon rind, and citrus blossom that explodes from the glass. The pallet offers refreshing flavors of green melon coupled with a savory, lasting butterscotch finish. A beautiful style of Russian River Valley Chardonnay that is delicious to drink now and will age gracefully for years to come.

The 2023 growing season was a much-welcomed change of pace as above average winter rainfall replenished aquifers and left soil profiles fully saturated to start the growing season. A cool slow progression into spring delayed bud break and prolonged flowering, generally slowing the start to the season and the timeline of grape development. Veraison was two to three weeks behind compared to the last few years. Grapes benefited from long hangtimes and developed mature phenolics at lower sugar levels. Great color, acidity, and varietal character are trademarks of the 2023 vintage in Sonoma County and will be a vintage to cherish at your table in 5, 10, or even 20 years.

This vintage of Chardonnay is made from estate-grown grapes from the Russian River Valley Appellation. The wine earns its name, Special Selection, from a rigorous barrel selection process. The winemaking team set out to find a distinct blend of barrels with the most elegant Chardonnay style expressed in the aroma and pallet. The team went barrel by barrel, revisiting each one as it evolved during the aging process, and eventually, four were designated to make the final Special Selection. The wine aged Sur Lie in barrel for sixteen months with frequent stirring of the lees to add depth and class. The wine was filtered and then bottled on January 15, 2020.

Our Special Selection Chardonnay pairs best with white truffles, roast chicken or a pungent blue cheese.