Winemaker’s Tasting Notes
Delicate aromas of Fuji apple, Asian pear, freshly cut persimmon and citrus blossom entice the nose. Upon first sip, mouthwatering grapefruit and bright lime interplay on the palate. The lively acidity balances seamlessly with French oak nuances, enticing you to take another sip. More expressive in its youth than previous vintages. Enjoy now or cellar through 2030.
Harvest began earlier than normal due to the need to preserve the quality of the fruit, which introduced a more natural acidity to this vintage. Yields were down 20-30% due to spring rains, but the well-balanced fruit harvested was the ultimate reward— especially in a difficult year like 2020. Fuji apple aromas are always the mark of a good chardonnay, and, along with its mouth-watering acidity and French oak backbone, this vintage is a showstopper.”
—Maggie Kruse, winemaker
Chef’s Pairing Suggestions
With its brightness and clean fruit flavors, the 2020 Jordan Chardonnay makes a wonderful aperitif and is also a versatile food pairing wine. Unlike many fuller-bodied chardonnays, Jordan Chardonnay will not overpower salads or raw bar favorites, and it also creates a nice contrast of flavors with dishes that have a little heat, such as spicy Ahi tuna and Thai Cuisine.
Harvest Dates:
August 26-September 12, 2020
Vineyards:
17 vineyard blocks from six growers.
Fermentation:
Clusters destemmed and gently pressed at night to extract freshness and acidity while avoiding astringent phenolic character from the skins. Inoculated and fermented 12 days in 54% new French oak barrels and 46% in stainless steel tanks. Bâtonnage was limited to six weeks and malolactic fermentation to 28% to ensure that aromas were not masked by a buttery component.
Sur Lie:
Four months of sur lie aging (in both stainless steel and barrel) to bring a touch of creaminess to the mid-palate.
Cooperages:
French oak barrels from six coopers were chosen based on grain tightness, low tannin potential and light toast levels, allowing for the purity of the fruit to shine.
Aging:
5.5 months in 100% new French oak.
Selection:
Double-sorting of grapes; many press cuts to preserve the free-run juice’s pure flavors.
Varietal:
100% chardonnay
Appellation:
100% Russian River Valley
Final Analysis:
Alcohol: 13.7%; T.A.: 0.72g/100mL; pH: 3.33; R.S.: 0.03%
Bottling Dates:
June 9-17, 2021
Fined and filtered before bottling
Release Date:
May 1, 2022
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes
Rich aromas of ripe black cherry, Mission fig and dark chocolate mingle with a spice box of clove and nutmeg. The palate is filled with flavors of juicy blackberry and boysenberry that are enveloped in silky tannins, showing complexity beyond its years. Enticing flavors of fresh vanilla bean and hazelnut carry through a velvety richness that lingers on the finish. Enjoy now after decanting for 45 minutes or cellar through 2038.
A vintage remarkably similar to 2012, the 2018 was the first vintage in recent memory that returned to the “usual normal.” Bloom occurred under normal conditions, followed by longer
hang-time due to the cooler summer and fall weather. This allowed the smaller berries to develop a very intense level of dark fruit flavors and mature tannins, making this a vintage that will age gracefully.”
—Maggie Kruse, winemaker
Chef’s Pairing Suggestions
The dark fruit flavors and beautiful structure make it a lovely wine for food pairing. This wine’s elegance, acidity and spice notes complement grilled or roasted dishes, such as herb-crusted lamb, roasted duck or grilled pork loin. The wine’s earthiness even complements vegetarian dishes, such as mushroom risotto, ratatouille or roasted root vegetables.
Harvest Dates:
September 21-October 23, 2018
Vineyards:
More than 60 vineyard blocks from Jordan Estate and 14 family growers.
Fermentation:
Lots kept separate by vineyard; 15 days extended maceration; every lot reevaluated after 12-day primary fermentation; malolactic fermentation completed over 10 days in upright oak casks before assemblage to create our “barrel blend.”
Cooperages:
Barrels from four French coopers were selected based on blind tastings and vintage flavor profile; primarily medium toast.
Aging:
100% French oak for 13 months; 35% new and 65% one-year-old barrels.
Selection:
Post malolactic fermentation, individual lots were blind tasted and ranked, then assembled into our “barrel blend.” After one year in barrels, the “barrel blend” was reassessed and only top
lots were combined for the final master blend.
Varietal Blend:
80% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot, 7% petit verdot and 2% malbec
Appellation:
Alexander Valley
Regional Sources:
87% Alexander Valley, 10% Mendocino County, 3% Dry Creek Valley
Final Analysis:
Alcohol: 13.6%; T.A.: 0.59 g/100mL; pH: 3.57; R.S.: 0.03%
Bottling Dates:
June 26-August 4, 2020 Egg-white fined and filtered before bottling
Release Date:
May 1, 2022
JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY | 1474 Alexander Valley Road | Healdsburg, CA 95448 jordanwinery.com | @jordanwinery | (707) 431-5250