2016 Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Jordan Vineyard & Winery was founded in 1976 by Tom Jordan and his wife Sally. Tom had been in the oil and gas business in Denver and the couple bought land in Alexander Valley and built a French-style chateau. The estate owns 391 acres in Alexander Valley and the Russian River Valley. The estate makes a total of about 100,000 cases annually of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that Jordan’s “Cabernets emphasize elegant, soft tannins as well as easygoing fruit.”

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.