2006 Corley Reserve Estate Grown Chardonnay
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Print: Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes:
The Vintage 2006 CORLEY RESERVE Estate Grown Chardonnay offers aromas of pears, figs and bananas with hints of caramel, crème brulee, oak and sweet floral notes. Flavors of pears, apples and figs dominate. The wine has a full, rich texture and a nice viscuous mouthfeel. It is smooth and seamless from beginning to end and concludes with a sweet creamy finish. Because of its rich texture and lower than typical acidity, I enjoy drinking this wine chilled, as that enhances some of the brighter aspects of the wine, and brings them into play. Enjoy this wine now through 2010 – Chris Corley, Winemaker
Vineyard Location:
Home Ranch Vineyard - Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Our Chardonnay vineyard in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley is planted with four different clones of Chardonnay (our Heirloom Clones and Dijon Clones #76, #95, #96, each to 420A rootstock. The Dijon clones produce Chardonnay grapes with well balanced, rich, bright, chardonnay fruit flavors and aromatics. Our Heirloom Clone layers exotic tropical aromatics and a bright acidity onto classic chardonnay fruit characteristics.
Harvest Dates / Brix: September 19 and 30, 2006. Alcohol 14.2%
Vintage: A slightly cool start in spring delayed bud break a bit but the growing season evened out with the heat spike in July and then moderate temperatures in Aug and Sept brought on a steady chardonnay harvest - definite similarities in the timing and quality to 2005.
Vinification: The CORLEY RESERVE Chardonnay is crafted in a rich style. The grapes are the finest from the vintage and their rich ripe complex character allow us to utilize higher levels of malo-lactic fermentation and new oak while still maintaining a balanced wine. In 2006, the wine is a blend of Dijon Clone #96 and Heirloom Clone.
Barrel Aging: 11 Months in French Oak, 50% New
Alcohol: 14.1%