Summary

A crushed fruit fermentation wine, made with ripe and heavily sorted fruit and often fermented by ambient yeast in oak barrel. The wines often have aromas and texture from lees ageing and oak maturation, often with a portion new oak. Varying percentages of malolactic conversion may occur, and the wines may be allowed to age in barrel, before fining, filtering, and bottling.

Key Varietals

• Chardonnay

Structurally Similar

• Premium Sonoma Chardonnay
  (Outstanding)
• Chenin Blanc
  (Outstanding)
• Australia Chardonnay
  (Very Good to Outstanding)
• Hermitage Blanc
  (Outstanding)
• Côte d’Or Blanc Premier Cru or Grand Cru
  (Outstanding)