2007 Pine Ridge Vineyards Dijon Clones Chardonnay
Mission Codename: Better than ever
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Return to Wine Spies Operative favorite, Pine Ridge Vineyards, and secure an ample allocation of their exceptional 2007 Carneros Dijon Clone Chardonnay for our Operatives who, last year, purchased the 2006 in record numbers
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Pine Ridge Winery
Wine Subject: 2007 Dijon Clones Carneros Chardonnay – Napa Valley
Winemaker: Michael Beaulac
Backgrounder: Carneros Chardonnay is revered for its quality, elegance and smoothness. The Carneros viticultural area, a wine growing region which straddles the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, has been a great source of wine that we have featured here. Always, those wine have been of supreme quality. The cool Carneros region provides ideal growing conditions for Chardonnay – and Chardonnay literally thrives there. Today’s Chardonnay is truly representative of the the best that region has to offer
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Gorgeous golden yellow, with perfect clarity and a beautiful and very unique thin rim of dark gold. When swirled, the wine settles quickly, leaving behind a cascade of skinny legs.
Smell – Bright and inviting, I found myself inhaling deeply of this wonderfully aromatic wine. Leading with citrus and white peach, followed by soft orange blossom honey, pineapple, white nectarine with hints of hawthorn flower and vanilla.
Feel – Light-weight on the attack, the wine is soft and voluptuous across the mid-palate – without the buttery feeling that many find unappealing in some Chardonnay. As the wine warms, it present a fuller feel, with more roundness. Tannins are soft and balanced.
Taste – Very delicious, especially as the wine warms a little. This deeply flavorful wine shows off flavors that almost exactly mimic what is present on the nose. Added flavors include touches of green apple, lemon curd, soft spice and flinty minerals.
Finish – Long and flavor-filled, especially when not drunk too cold. Fruit flavors linger for a long time and then a soft dryness appears, remind you to take another flavor-filled sip.
Conclusion – Like liquid sunshine, this wine warmed our souls. Sorry for the hyperbole there, but this wine deserves it! From four first sips, we were in love. This, coming from a group of Wine Spies that are getting harder and harder to impress with Chardonnay. This wine, especially when enjoyed at a little higher than fridge temperature, is a real delight that is full of flavor. This wine pairs well, even with more challenging foods. We paired with spicy Thai tofu and wok fried veggies (thank you, Agent Tipsy!) and the combination was stellar! Between bites, the palate was refreshed with each sip of this gorgeous wine.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Michael Beaulac
WINE EDUCATION: The school of hard knocks…started as a cellar rat and worked my way up!
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Elegance is the key. A wine should have velvet tannins that cover the palate and once swallowed should linger for several seconds.
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Greetings, Michael. We are thrilled to be showing your 2007 Dijon Clones Chardonnay today. I was a big fan of the 2006, and I find this wine to be even better. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
MICHAEL: It’s my great pleasure to be here again, Red.
RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
MICHAEL: I had a bottle of Jean Gros Vosne-Romanee and realized what a very good bottle of wine could taste like.
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
MICHAEL: Christian Mouiex
RED: Who do you make wine for?
MICHAEL: Our fans and consumers. There is nothing better than to be in a restaurant and seeing someone enjoying a bottle of wine that I made .
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
MICHAEL: This wine is beautiful blend of French and California styles – the beauty of Carneros fruit in a vibrant style that retains these fruit flavors. We don’t put this wine through malolactic fermentation so there is a nice acidity that makes it perfect for food, but yet there is a lot of complexity that comes from barrel fermentation and French oak aging for nine months. It has lovely tropical fruit aromas of peach and nectarine with hints of vanilla and toast on the nose. Bright citrus flavors and a creamy, silky texture on the palate makes this wine a delight to drink – it has beautiful balance that has become the hallmark of this bottling
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
MICHAEL: Seared diver scallops with preserved lemon cream prepared by our chef, Eric Maczko
RED: In your opinion, what makes the Napa Carneros region so special?
MICHAEL: Napa is THE perfect place to grow grapes. The warm, sunny days followed by the cool nights lets the grapes ripen with the right balance of flavor, sugar and acidity
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
MICHAEL: Getting my Dijon Clone Chardonnay and Le Petit Clos Chardonnay ready for bottling.
RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
MICHAEL: Always remember that the wine is made in the vineyard and should show its place of origin. Even more importantly, wine is about sharing with friends and family – don’t over-think it
RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
MICHAEL: Drink more Chardonnay!
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Pine Ridge Winery in the Stags’ Leap district in Napa County can be seen in this satellite photo.
