At the table with The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023
Lobster roasted in lightly salted butter, sole meunière, Bresse chicken in cream sauce, veal sweetbreads with morels, aged Comté.
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The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023Sonoma-Cutrer
This single-vineyard cuvée comes from The Cutrer Vineyard, in the Russian River Valley, in the heart of Sonoma County, California. The closely planted vines sit on an ancient seabed that stores the heat of the day and releases it to the vines, while Pacific fog cools the nights. The diversity of microclimates, soils, rootstocks and clones gives each plot a wide palette of nuances.
The grapes are harvested by hand at night, chilled and then whole-cluster pressed. After a few days of settling, the juice ferments entirely in French oak barrels, with full malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for seven months on the lees with monthly bâtonnage, then blended and transferred to three-year-old barrels for a further five months, making around 14 months of ageing.
This wine reveals notes of white peach, pear, baked apple, caramel, vanilla, nougat, macadamia nut, pie crust and sweet spices. Ripe fruit intertwines with pastry-like indulgence and well-integrated oak. The palate is rich and textured, carried by juicy acidity that leads to a vibrant, persistent finish.
Where are we traveling?
CaliforniaUnited States
While all 50 American states produce wine, California alone accounts for around 85% of the country's output, making the state the world's 4th-largest producer behind Italy, France and Spain. The climate is strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, which at this latitude is a cold ocean. Wine regions close to the Pacific have an oceanic climate that becomes Mediterranean the further inland you go, and more continental near the Sierra Nevada. Bays and openings to the sea, such as San Pablo Bay, act as thermal regulators for viticulture, particularly in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
The sub-region: Lodi
The Lodi wine area lies directly east of San Francisco Bay. Although it is quite far from the coast (the Pacific is 115 km to the west), Lodi enjoys a Mediterranean climate that is milder than you might expect for an inland location. This is due to the many rivers that cross the region and the creeks, estuaries and bays into which they flow. The parts of the region closer to the ocean are noticeably cooler, although most of Lodi enjoys warm days and lends itself to producing reds with concentrated flavour.
The little history of the country
United States
In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...).
In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public.
Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.
All about The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023
At what temperature should The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023 be served?
Between 10 and 12 °C.
How long can The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023 be kept?
Ageing potential: 5 to 10 years, until around 2033. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023?
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay. Origin: California, United States. Alcohol: 13.8%.
What to serve with The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023?
The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023 pairs well with shellfish, hard cheese, white fish and white meat. Our dish ideas are in the food pairing box at the top of the page.