2015 Chardonnay
Palate
Classic Linden “Villages” Chardonnay showing ripeness and balance with fresh acidity and a dry long finish.
Aromas
Wet stone, white flowers, pineapple.
Food Pairings
Grilled salmon, or any ‘steak’ fish. Lightly seasoned poultry or pork.
Vineyard
Hardscrabble Vineyard (70%), Fauquier Co. on top of the Blue Ridge at 1,300 to 1,400 feet with an eastern to southern slope. Deep, well-drained mineral soils give acidity and good structure. Vines planted in 1985, 1988, 1994 and 2010. VSP and French Lyre training systems.
Avenius Vineyard (20%), Warren Co. just 1 mile north of Linden Vineyards at 1,300 feet, contributes good acidity and verve. Vines planted in 1998.
Boisseau Vineyard (10%), Warren Co. is located on a bluff above Front Royal in the Shenandoah Valley at an elevation of 600 feet. The vineyard is west facing on light, deep, well-drained loam soils. The vines were planted in 2000 and are trained on cordon/VSP trellising.
Vintage
Bud break was slightly late. May was unusually dry and consequentially accelerated growth and flowering. Right around flowering June turned very wet, however pollination and berry set was successful, as temperatures remained warm.
Wet spells continued into July and we were bracing ourselves for a possible negative impact on wine quality. The rains stopped in mid-July, but shoot growth continued into early August, which is later than ideal. With a very dry August, vine growth eventually stopped and vines were in fairly good balance going into harvest, but quite vigorous.
Warm, dry weather accelerated ripening. Harvest started early with Boisseau on September 3, and ending with Hardscrabble old vines on September 19, 2015.
Winemaking
Chilled grapes were sorted, pressed, juice settled and then barrel fermented warm (70’s F) in old, neutral French oak. No malolactic fermentation. Aged sur lie in barrel for 10 months. This 2015 Linden Chardonnay is primarily comprised of press juice from all three vineyard sites. 111 cases produced. This wine will improve in the bottle for 4 or more years past vintage. Alcohol 13.4%.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2015 Vintage | 2015 Chardonnay