V. Vineyards Chardonnay Aurae Knights Valley 2017
Chardonnay | US
Gina and Steve Viets didn’t plan on getting into making serious wines when they bought their land in Sonoma, but the world is a better, more delicious place since they did. The Viets are known for making amazing Cabernet-based wines off the back side of Spring Mountain, but in 2017 they decided to venture into making Chardonnay and chose a fantastic site, Parr Vineyards. Parr is in Knights Valley and is a very cool, foggy, sandy loam site that ripens late and preserves the natural acidity. This will blow your mind. Just 75 cases were produced!
If you know Jean Hoefliger’s high-scoring Chardonnays (Alpha Omega, AXR, Monteverro) stylistically this hits the mark. We scored a fantastic price on this highly-drinkable, full bodied, rich and balanced wine and bought every bottle we could find! This just hits all the pleasure points for lovers of full-bodied chardonnay - 18 months in 100% French oak, 30% new with aging on lees, and “battonage” (stirring the lees) for the first couple of months to keep the fresh new oak phenolics away, all the while creating texture and mouthfeel. Wow!
About the Producer
"Every once in awhile an unparalleled vineyard site is quite literally stumbled upon. Gina and Steve Viets purchased their Sonoma home designed to give their children more room to roam and to escape foggy San Francisco. Little did they know, but their passion for seeking the perfect bottle of Cabernet, along with their interest in farming, was about to converge. While exploring the property and it's history the family discovered that the land was once a vineyard in the late 1800s, they began seeing their hillside in a whole new light, inspiring them to establish V. Vineyards - dedicated to single-vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon wines. V. Vineyards unique mountain site provides well-drained volcanic soils which help to produce small berries with intensely concentrated flavors. The elevation also affords a cool, long growing season producing elegant aromas and tannins encompassed by a strong acidic backbone. The resulting wines are a true expression of the remarkable terroir which is V. Vineyard."
- BlendChardonnay
- CountryUS
- RegionSonoma County
- AppellationCalifornia North Coast
- VineyardJean Hoefliger
- Aging/Cooperage18 months in 100% French oak, 30% new with aging on lees
- Alcohol15.6%