2010 Chenin Blanc
Our Chenin Blanc has a long and storied history on Pritchard Hill. The original vines were already producing when Donn and Molly purchased the property in the late 1960s. Following a replanting in 2004, we reintroduced our Chenin Blanc as a “Signature” designation – with a twist. While our Signature Cabernet and Chardonnay bear Donn Chappellet’s name, Molly Chappellet’s signature graces our Chenin Blanc label. To add depth and complexity, the 2010 Chenin Blanc was fermented in a combination of neutral French oak barrels, stainless steel barrels and tanks and a Nomblot concrete “egg.”
| Vintage: | 2010 |
| Wine Type: | White Wine |
| Varietal: | Chenin Blanc |
| Varietal Composition: | |
| 100% | Chenin Blanc |
| Harvest Date: | September 30, 2010 |
| Sugar: | 24.5º Brix at Harvest |
| Acid: | TA - 0.65g/100ml |
| PH: | 3.55 |
| Barrel Aging: | |
| 6 months | |
| 34% | Neutral French Oak |
| 33% | Nomblot Concrete "Egg" |
| 33% | Stainless Steel Barrels |
| Ageability: | 3-5 Years |
| Bottling Date: | June 28, 2011 |
| Alcohol %: | 14.1 |
From the second it’s poured, this wine offers up irresistible fruit and floral aromatics, with layers of peach, orange blossom, honeydew, pineapple, lychee, hazelnut and minerals all mingling in perfect harmony. The mouth has vibrant acidity, delicate sweetness and a pleasant richness, with tropical and stone fruit flavors that echo the nose and flow through to a long, satisfying finish.
Though 2010 was one of the coldest years in the history of Chappellet, our experience from four decades of farming Pritchard Hill paid great dividends. We aggressively thinned early in the season, doing as many as two to three fruit drops in all parts of the vineyard. Judicious canopy management combined with our ideal north-south row orientations allowed us to avoid burning during a significant August heat event. The weather in October was perfect, and though the harvest was compact, everything came in before the rains, with the grapes showing exceptional color and richness, good acidity and excellent flavor development.
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