Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay 2007

wa89we89ws88

BN#266285

Winemaker Sarah Quider’s goal is to make complex, intense and seamless wines that are balanced in both richness and delicacy. Sarah employs gentle winemaking techniques, focusing on single vineyard sites for the Russian River Chardonnays, while blending wine for style, quality and multidimensional complexity that characterizes Ferrari-Carano's Chardonnays. Over 60 individual Chardonnay lots were either whole-cluster pressed or gently crushed, de-stemmed, pressed and then cold settled for two days in stainless steel tanks before moving to barrels. Aged separately in French oak, the wines completed 75 percent malolactic fermentation and were sur lie aged and stirred every two weeks for ten months. The 2007 Alexander Valley Chardonnay is a delicious wine with floral and fruit aromas of orange blossom, citrus, pear, figs, green apple, and a hint of toasted marshmallow and caramel. Generous on the palate, creamy vanilla undertones balance layers of toast and spice on the finish. If you’re looking for full bodied, luscious, big and bodacious Chardonnays, you’ve found it.

Wine Enthusiast

A fine Chardonnay, which Ferrari-Carano can usually be depended on to produce. Shows crowd-pleasing flavors of pineapple jam, butterscotch, crème brûlée and vanilla custard. Easy to find, with 42,000 cases produced.

Score: 89. —Steve Heimoff, August 01, 2009.

Wine Advocate

Aromas of orange marmalade, honeyed lemon blossoms, and baked apples emerge from the fruity, medium to full-bodied 2007 Chardonnay. It possesses fresh acidity, a heady finish, and no obvious oak. Drink it over the next 1-3 years.

Score: 89. —Robert Parker, February 2010.

Wine Spectator

Sleek and well-balanced, offering subtle green apple, mineral and citrus flavors that whisper delicacy and finesse. Drink now through 2012.

Score: 88. —James Laube, July 31, 2009.