2015 Avenius Chardonnay

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Palate

Ripe, lush, dry, persistent.

Food Pairings

Roasted chicken, salmon, monk fish.

Vineyard

Avenius Vineyard is owned and operated by Shari Avenius, who is also Linden Vineyard’s director. It is located on the Blue Ridge one-half mile north of Linden Vineyards at an elevation of 1,300 feet on a steep northeast facing slope. Soils are well-drained rocky greenstone and slate. The Chardonnay vines (Dijon clones) were planted in 1996 and are trained on the French lyre trellising system.

Vintage

The winter of 2014/15 was colder than average, but unlike the winter of 2013/14, there was no vine or bud damage. Bud break was slightly late. May was unusually dry and consequentially accelerated growth and flowering. Right around flowering June turned very wet, however pollination and berry set was successful, as temperatures remained warm. Wet spells continued into July and we were bracing ourselves for a possible negative impact on wine quality. The rains stopped in mid-July, but shoot growth continued into early August, which is later than ideal. With a very dry August, vine growth eventually stopped and vines were in fairly good balance going into harvest, but quite vigorous. Warm, dry weather accelerated ripening. Harvest was September 8, 2015.

Winemaking

The chilled grapes were sorted, pressed, juice settled, and then barrel fermented in older French oak barrels and 500-liter puncheons. No malolactic fermentations. Aged sur lie in barrel for 10 months. Bottled August 2016. This wine should plateau from 2019 to 2024. 134 cases produced. Alcohol 13.5%

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Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2015 Vintage | 2015 Avenius Chardonnay