2004 Chardonnay
Aromas
Pungent pear, cinnamon apples, honeydew melon, almonds & toasty vanilla aromas.
Food Pairings
Complements grilled salmon, rich fish & lemon thyme roasted chicken.
Vineyard
Hardscrabble Vineyard (100%), Fauquier Co. on top of the Blue Ridge at 1,300 to 1,400 feet with an eastern to southern slope. Deep, well-drained mineral soils give acidity and good structure. Vine ages from 12 to 20 years. VSP and French Lyre training systems.
Vintage
2004 can best be categorized as a roller coaster vintage. The growing season was quite good, with a very early flowering due to a hot May, below normal summer temperatures, and slightly higher than normal rainfall. Mid August through early September was a beautiful window of perfect ripening weather. Low crop levels combined with an early flowering resulted in a very early start of the harvest under ideal conditions. However unfortunate series of rains diluted the chardonnay grapes just before harvest. For this reason, the vineyard blocks that usually make up Hardscrabble Chardonnay were declassified into our regular bottling. Small yields of 25hl/H (two tons/acre) still gives the wine good concentration.
Winemaking
Chilled grapes were sorted, pressed, juice settled and then barrel fermented in older French oak. Malolactic fermentation completed. Aged sur lie in barrel for 10 months. 247 cases produced. This wine will improve in the bottle for 5 to 7 years.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2004 Vintage | 2004 Chardonnay