Cruse Wine Co. Chardonnay Rorick Vineyard 2023

Country: USA

Region: Sierra Foothills

Type: White Wine

Grape: Chardonnay

This wine comes from a unique site high in the Sierra Foothills just outside of the town of Murphys. The vines are own-rooted and planted in 1974 in schist soils over a limestone bedrock and was recently purchased by Matthew Rorick and his family. The vine age, elevation, and rocky soils create incredibly low yielding vines with the tiniest of clusters.

The grapes were hand harvested and gently pressed using a long Champagne press cycle. Juice was transferred to neutral barrels and fermentation occurred spontaneously. The wine received a small amount of sulfur immediately before bottling.

The expressive nose of this Chardonnay is filled with white flowers and concentrated citrus. The weight is viscous and oily, but with a bright, cleansing acidity and a mineral palate of wet stone and earth.