Description
George Hendry and his family have been growing grapes on their 203-acre farm located at the foot of Mt. Veeder (just northwest of the city of Napa) for over 80 years. A portion of Hendry Ranch sits on some of the earliest vineyards planted in Napa, dating back to 1859. The site has seen a wide range of ups-and-downs, from Phylloxera devastating the vines in the late 1800s to the onset of Prohibition in 1920. The Hendry family began making wine in 1992 (prior to that, they sold their grapes to other winemakers), and now make their wine solely from estate-grown fruit. The maritime microclimate lends itself well to over a dozen grape varietals, including Chardonnay; the Hendry Vineyard is located on bench lands just west of the town of Napa, just a mile or so from Carneros, and enjoys similar marine-layer influence. This wine is a selection from three Chardonnay blocks: Block 9 (Old Wente/KD Clone, planted 1974) Block 19 (Dijon 96, planted 1996), and Block 20 (Dijon 95, planted 1996).
At harvest, the fruit from each block was whole cluster crushed, then fermented in chilled stainless-steel tanks, and protected from oxygen exposure to prevent oxidation. Both measures help to preserve the fresh fruit flavors of Chardonnay grown in a cool climate. It was not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation and remained in chilled stainless steel to allow for multiple cold settles until bottling with a screw-cap closure. Delicate aromas with apricot and herbal notes, leading to a fresh and clean palate. Bright, crisp flavors of green apple, nectarine, and citrus zest, with a surprisingly rich, full mouthfeel and palate-cleansing acidity. A great example of Chardonnay's pure fruit character without oak influence. Perfect for lighter fare like grilled veggies or gazpacho.
