A beautifully rendered wine, elegant and generous at the same time, offering shy oak spice and creamy citrus on the nose, good acidity and rich, deep, creamy flavors of citrus and pear. Bonterra wines use very low levels of sulfites during fermentation and aging in order to ensure shelf stability and prevent oxidation. All of Fetzer's Bonterra Chardonnays are aged in American oak barrels handcrafted at Fetzer's own cooperage. Aromas of Mendocino's characteristic green apple fruit are here enhanced by notes of lemon-lime citrus and coconut. Soft and moderately rich on the palate with bright, delicious flavors unencumbered by heavy oak treatment.
More spice emerges as the wine airs in the glass.
The grapes from Burnee Hill possess a striking balance between the delicate fruit flavors and the necessary grape acid to give life and longevity to Jepson's Chardonnays. The '97 Jepson Estate Select Chardonnay exhibits a smoky nose that masks the fruit to some extent. Modest flavors of white melon and citrus need more bottle age to develop. Winemaker Van Williamson explains that the estate grapes for this wine were hand harvested and whole-cluster pressed. For complexity and texture, the wine was fermented with only wild yeast, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.