Livermore, California, United States
Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards is the oldest continuously-operated, family-owned winery in the country; owned and managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California's premier wine country destinations. The winery draws from nearly 3,000 acres of Estate vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay and Arroyo Seco, Monterey appellations to create an outstanding portfolio of fine wines.
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Eric's Small Lot Chardonnay
| SKU (BC) | 841239 |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Livermore Valley, CA |
| Type | White |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Listing (BC) | Speculative |
| Case Config. | 12x750ml |
| Available In |
Colour
Golden straw yellow.
Aroma
Aromas of lemon zest, green apple, pear, pineapple, and nectarine alongside citrus blossom.
Flavour
An excellent balance between fruit and acidity make this wine refreshing and food friendly.
Food Pairing
Perfect pair for grilled salmon and seafood or just to sip on its own.
More Info
Wente Vineyards was the first California winery to produce a wine labeled with the varietal name Chardonnay in 1936. Today, many of the great Chardonnay vineyards in California are planted with the Wente Clone. The 92-acre Estate vineyard that makes Eric's Chardonnay was first planted in 1884 with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon brought by French grape grower, Louis Mel, to Livermore from Chateau d' Yquem in Bordeaux. The vineyards are planted in a combination of Livermore gravel (rocky soil with excellent drainage) in the flatlands, and a slightly richer gravel soil on the sloping hillside. Our small lot wine is harvested from carefully selected blocks that are estate grown and sustainably farmed. The grapes are handpicked and sorted at harvest time in order to ensure premium quality. Primary fermentation was completed in stainless steel tank. The wine was aged for 4 months in stainless steel tank.
The Tasting Panel, Jul/2019
2018 -
"Estate fruit is carefully selected from special certified-sustainable blocks. Fog and cool Pacific breezes influence the character of this cold-fermented, stainless steel–aged white. Bracing, lemon-scented acidity shows itself on the nose with perfumed kiwi and baked apple. Pineapple and cinnamon come into play along with grapefruit zest and a persistent stoniness. Whitetea floral notes clean the palate."
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2020
2018 -
Bronze Medal
Wine Enthusiast, Dec/2017
2016 -
"This is a very good example of an unoaked Chardonnay. It has lots of zingy fresh-fruit aromas, lively citrus and green-apple flavors and good supportive acidity to keep the mouthfeel tangy. Winemaker Karl Wente made this one to please his no-frills dad, Eric Wente."
Tasting Panel, Jun/2016
2015 -
Wine Enthusiast, Nov/2016
2015 -
"Aromas of this medium-bodied, un-oaked wine suggest sliced pears and apples, while the flavors are equally fruity but have a leaner feel. The texture is dry, firm and crisp, making this a great pairing for shellfish and many other dishes."