Silver Mountain 2001 Estate Chardonnay

Wine Recommendation:
Silver Mountain 2001 Estate Chardonnay

History:
Silver Mountain's Estate Chardonnay is from the Mount Eden clone, brought from Burgundy (allegedly from one of Louis Latour's vineyards) by Paul Masson in the 1890's. It was with this clone that the art of winemaking in California was revolutionized by using noble Burgundian varietals at a time when most wine was blended from inferior varieties. The Mount Eden clone is still grown in a few vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains and elsewhere, while most vineyards today have planted higher yielding varieties. The typical yield for the Mount Eden clone is only one to two tons per acre, and the vines produce fruit with tiny berries. The resulting wine, as you will see with Silver Mountain's Chardonnay, is typically characterized by intense, concentrated fruit flavors and a balanced acidity. And, unlike most California Chardonnay, this wine benefits from aging (min. 3-5 years in the bottle). Wine lovers tired of over-oaked Chardonnays and who claim to have given it up and now drink only red wine have rediscovered Chardonnay through Silver Mountain.

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
The beautiful nose on Silver Mountain's 2001 Estate Chardonnay is perfumed with apples and a slight hint of vanilla. The palate is soft and full, with flavors of apples and pears; vanilla and a hint of cinnamon and caramel linger in the mouth. An ageworthy Chardonnay.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	Santa Cruz Mountains
Harvest Dates:	September 29 and October 6th, 2001
Bottling:	Fined with bentonite, settled, racked, coarse filtered and bottled
Oak:	11 months in 60% French, 40% Eastern European oak.
Must Analysis:	Brix 24.0; PH 3.54; Acid 0.66
Alcohol:	14.3%