Founders Reserve

2011 Russian River Valley Chardonnay

The Sonoma-Cutrer Founders Reserve from the renowned Russian River Valley presents itself as a truly remarkable Chardonnay. This wine showcases a medium-bodied profile that balances elegance with richness, making it both approachable and sophisticated. Its acidity is bright and lively, enhancing the overall freshness of the wine, while the fruit intensity is prominent, offering delightful notes of citrus and green apple, complemented by subtle hints of tropical fruits. The wine exhibits a delicate interplay of oak and minerality, resulting in a well-rounded and harmonious finish. With a dryness that is perfectly calibrated, the Sonoma-Cutrer Founders Reserve is a fantastic choice for those seeking a refreshing yet complex white wine experience.

Tasting notes:

Vanilla

Baking Spice

Butter

Flavor profile:

Acidity Medium

Low Pronounced

Body Medium

Very Light Full

Fruit Intensity Medium

Low Pronounced

Sweetness Dry

Bone Dry Sweet

Pairs well with:

Seafood, Grilled Shrimp with Garlic Butter, Lemon Butter Scallops

Region:

Russian River Valley

Prized for its elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Sonoma's Russian River Valley is one of California's premier AVAs for cool-climate wines. Blessed with the Petaluma Gap—a break in the coastal mountains where chill, foggy air blows in from the Pacific—the valley also benefits from the effects of the Russian River itself. This draws cool Pacific Ocean air inland and creates blanketing fogs that veil the vineyards throughout the chilly mornings. The result is one of the state's longest and coolest growing seasons. Bracing acidity and complex flavors characterize wines from this region, which also includes excellent sparklers made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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