Matanzas Creek 1996 Chardonnay
Matanzas Creek Winery 6097 Bennett Valley Rd. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Vintage: 1996 Variety: Chardonnay Appellation: Sonoma Valley Price: $30 Rating: 92
	Anthony Dias Blue Tasting Notes: Crisp and pretty with lively acidity, butter and lovely citrus fruit. This is a Chardonnay that sets a standard by which others should be judged.
Winery Notes: Matanzas Creek Winery captured the wine world's attention with its very first Chardonnay, made from the 1978 vintage. Word of an exciting new premium-quality Chardonnay released by an upstart winery spread quickly, and, within months of its release, Matanzas Creek's first Chardonnay was selling out, garnering enthusiastic critical acclaim, and rousing anticipation of vintages to follow. The next year, Matanzas Creek's second vintage, the 1979 Chardonnay, took the Sweepstakes Award at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, further establishing the winery's reputation. Two years later, the 1981 Chardonnay was awarded the Sweepstakes Award at the 1983 San Francisco International Wine Competition. Since these early successes, Matanzas Creek's Chardonnay wines have enjoyed unceasing critical acclaim, making Matanzas Creek Winery a 'reference point' label for devotees of fine California Chardonnay. Matanzas Creek's estate vineyard manager Tom Freitas cultivates dynamic, highly flavorful Chardonnay grapes by the meticulous matching of climatic and soil conditions to varietal clones, appropriate trellising techniques, diligent canopy management, and careful irrigation practices. Matanzas Creek Winery is also intimately involved in the viticultural research and growing of all of its contract vineyards. Matanzas Creek describes its Chardonnay as "classic" in style, defined by delicate mouthfeel, excellent integration of fruit and oak, a complexity of flavors, and impeccable balance. This synergy of elements is at the heart of Matanzas Creek Chardonnay and yields wines which are accessible in their youth and continue to improve with age for five to ten years.   This wine is available through America's Wine Clubs in partnership with GourmetMarket.com.     Tasting Notes—December 1998 Wines Bonny Doon 1996 Syrah Jaffurs 1996 Syrah Matanzas Creek 1996 Chardonnay Matanzas Creek 1995 Merlot Recipes Cheese Parcels Lamb Kebabs Mussaka—Eggplant and Lamb Casserole Portobella Mushrooms and Garlic Casserole

 
 

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This page created December 1998

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