1999 Merryvale Dutton Ranch Chardonnay

Merryvale was founded in 1983 though the historic estate dates to the early 20th century. Located in St. Helena, the estate was built just after the repeal of prohibition. Today it is owned by the Schlatter family. Merryvale owns 25 acres of vineyards and grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Named after a building in San Francisco, the winery’s mission is to make Bordeaux-style wines. It makes about 10,000 cases of Merryvale annually, and about 90,000 cases of its second line, the Starmont label. Merryvale’s signature wines are Profile, a red Bordeaux blend, and Silhouette, a Burgundian Chardonnay. Wine Enthusiast rated the 2008 Profile at 97 pts and called it “a tremendous wine that shows how Merryvale is absolutely at the top of its game.”

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.