Wine from Sonoma Cutrer Winery in the heart of Sonoma, CA
Autumn is approaching, and even though I am still shedding my fluffy white hair all over the store, I am thinking about the crisp fall air, only a few weeks away.
Sonoma County is on the western edge of wine country in California, bordering Napa, its famous neighbor, and the Pacific Ocean. There are 16 AVA’s in Sonoma or American Viticultural Areas. These AVA’s are smaller regions within Sonoma that have been mapped out and recognized for their particular growing conditions and terroir- or soils and climate. The Green Valley is right on the Pacific Ocean bordering the Russian River, and the climate is cool; just right for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The Alexander Valley is the most densely planted AVA in Sonoma, and has been noted for its richness and complexity, especially in their Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. There is Dry Creek, Los Carneros, Chalk Hill and Knights Valley to name a few- and of course the Russian River Valley, home to the Sonoma Cutrer Winery since 1973.
Nestled along the foothills of Sonoma’s Russian River, the cool coastal climate has proven to be some of the greatest terroir for Burgundian varietals. Sonoma Cutrer makes world class Pinot Noir for their red, sourced from specialized vineyard sites, and Chardonnay for their white. Volcanic ash from Mount St Helena lends to the mineral rich Chardonnay. Sonoma Cutrer specializes in French style Chardonnay, aged in French oak barrels, sourced from their finest vineyards among the 450 acres owned by the winery.
The Sonoma Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2012 offers fruit aromas of Golden Delicious apple, Bosc pear and white peach are accented with toasted nuts, oak spice, a hint of vanilla and a touch of butter. This wine has the signature Sonoma-Cutrer balance between elegance and richness for a medium-bodied, mouth-filling wine. The creamy richness is balanced with a bright acidity and highlighted with flavors of apple, pear and lemon zest. I give it 3 bones!
The single vineyard Chardonnay called “Les Pierres” Chardonnay uses Grand Cru methodology to set this wine apart. Flavors of lime, grapefruit and lemon mixed with the flinty, mineral notes that are a defining characteristic of the Les Pierres Vineyard. This fine white wine is accented with hints of caramel, fresh cream, nutmeg and honey. The citrus flavors of grapefruit, lemonade and lime are accented with Les Pierres’ classic stony minerality, caramelized oak, and spice that nicely balance the citrus flavors. Their careful oak aging and fermentation creates a round, full mouth feel with Sonoma-Cutrer’s signature bright, lively acidity and a long lingering finish of nice barrel spice. Brunello’s scale gives this special wine three bones for the Chardonnay connoisseur!
The Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Pinot Noir 2012 This vintage is an elegant balance of sensuous fruit and lovely silky tannins. The initial impression of this wine starts in the nose with deep, dark fruit aromas of blackberry, raspberry, and black cherry with a touch of cola. Classic red fruit flavors of cherry and wild strawberry are hallmarks of Russian River Pinot Noir. The wine is round, silky, and elegant, aged for ten months in oak, with a juicy mid-palate and a wonderful long finish. It is then left to rest another six months in the bottle. Another three bones!
By Brunello Giancola as told to CRBrown
