2008 Avenius Chardonnay
Palate
Dense and filling mid-palate with depth and lingering finish. Both sweet and savory notes.
Aromas
Green apple and fresh cut hay. Light creamy toasted oak and crushed shells.
Food Pairings
Traditional French cream based seafood dishes. Veal.
Vineyard
Avenius Vineyard is owned and operated by Shari Avenius, who is also Linden Vineyard’s director. It is located on the Blue Ridge one half mile north of Linden Vineyards at an elevation of 1,300 feet on a steep northeast facing slope. Soils are well-drained rocky greenstone and slate. The Chardonnay vines were planted in 1996 and are trained on the French lyre trellising system.
Vintage
Summer was wetter than normal, but each month progressively became hotter and drier. Most of August was a drought, putting a much needed halt to vine vegetative growth. Very late August through most of September alternated between 2 or 3 days of rain and 4 or 5 days of sunny, warm conditions. In the vineyard, because of the wetter than normal conditions, canopy and cover crop management required much precision and labor. Leaf pulling severity was much more extreme than 2007. The rains of September caused some botrytis rot in the Chardonnay. Fortunately the rot was mostly of ‘good quality’ (very little sour rot), but sorting was a major task in 2008. Natural acidities were high. Harvest was September 15 and 21, 2008.
Winemaking
The chilled grapes were sorted, pressed, juice settled and then barrel fermented in older French oak. No malolactic fermentations. Aged sur lie in barrel for 10 months. 197 cases produced. Drink now through 2015.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2008 Vintage | 2008 Avenius Chardonnay