Dutton Goldfield 2018 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Russian River Valley, California

The 2018 season allowed Dutton Goldfield the luxury of picking exactly when they wanted—when the sugars and acids were in perfect alignment. The resulting wines have an excellent balance of lushness and crispness we love. In early spring, the blend is assembled with the primary lees and continues to age in French oak barrels through the summer. At Dutton Goldfield, they choose barrels to emphasize the wine's fruit and vineyard characteristics, rather than showcasing the oak itself. The ginger/nutmeg overtones and the buttercream components of the barrels complement the citrus focus of this wine. The wine is bottled in early Fall after approximately ten months in barrel and is delicious.