2010 Reserve Chardonnay 750

Appearance: Clear, star bright, pale yellow with high viscosity. Aroma: Lemon, ripe white peach, and green apple fruit framed with clove and vanilla spice with roasted almond in the background. Palate: Full bodied and crisp citrus, green apple and peach fruit upfront. Spicy clove and toasted nuttiness on a long finish which is balanced and refreshing. Will stay balanced and build in complexity with a couple of years in the cellar.

The 2010 growing season had a cool, wet beginning. The heavy rains replenished the limestone soils of our vineyards, allowing them to soak up the much needed water due to their unique high water holding capacity. Spring was late, but stayed calm and consistent, with no frost issues. Bud break came late due to the cold winter and mild spring and a dry May segued into moderately cool early summer months. August finally brought on the heat, but the uncommonly cool early summer made for the latest harvest of our white grapes in JUSTIN history allowing the soft harvest sun to slowly marry ripe varietal characteristics with bright, fresh acidity.

The JUSTIN Reserve Chardonnay is crafted in a style that provides a crisp, refreshing summer wine upon release, but acquires a rich nutty depth over time, evolving into a more textured, classically structured chardonnay after a few years in the cellar. A versatile food pairing wine, this wine is a unique American expression of Chardonnay, combining the character of crisp citrus and green apple of northern Burgundian classics like Chablis with the rich, mouth-filling finish of a Cote de Beaune from the south.