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  • : 2009 The Ministry of the Vinterior Russian River Valley Chardonnay (Previously $15.99)
2009 The Ministry of the Vinterior Russian River Valley Chardonnay (Previously $15.99) Product Zoom

2009 The Ministry of the Vinterior Russian River Valley Chardonnay (Previously $15.99)

SKU #1067576

A lower-in-alcohol Chardonnay from the Russian River with fantastic acidity due to the long, cool 2009 growing season. Tangy pineapple fruit, with lemon zest and white pepper spiciness on the nose and palate, and just a hint of minerality on the finish.

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Price: $11.99

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 By: AndyG |  Review Date: 12/22/2011 
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I'm not a huge fan of California chardonnay, but the 2009 Ministry of the Vinterior is an exception, more in the style of a crisp white Burgundy than a typical over-oaked California chard. There's tart acidity and a hint of mineral to balance the tangy fruit. At this price it's a solid value.

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Additional Information:

Varietal:

Chardonnay

- It's hard to believe that up until about 30 years ago, this extremely popular varietal hid behind the veil of geographical names like Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet. Now grown all over the world and bottled by its varietal name, Chardonnay has achieved a level of branding unlike any other wine. Surprisingly, though, what you get when you buy Chardonnay can differ greatly from country to country and even within one country, depending on the climate where it's grown and how it is vinified and aged. From fresh, crisp and minerally with apple and lemon notes to rich and buttery with tropical fruit overtones, Chardonnay runs the gamut. In France's Burgundy, Chardonnay is the source of the prized wines of Chablis, Corton-Charlemagne, Mâcon, Meursault and Montrachet. It also the foundation of exceptional Champagne, where it is blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier or vinified on its own into Blanc de Blancs. It is also extremely popular in California, and is gaining popularity in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and South Africa.
Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world. Click for a list of bestselling items from the United States.
Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year. For our entire selection of California wines, please visit this link.
Specific Appellation:

Alexander Valley/Russian River

- Although technically part of Sonoma Valley, the Alexander Valley AVA acts as a gateway to neighboring Napa to the east and Mendocino to the north. It is a sprawling appellation, with pockets of distinct microclimates and soils, and as such, is home to variety of wine grapes and styles. Nearly everything grows in the Alexander Valley, though cabernet and chardonnay are the most widely planted grapes. The Russian River Valley lies to the west of Alexander Valley, and is marked by much cooler temperatures and frequently heavy fog. The chardonnays and pinot noirs from here are some of the state's finest and most-sought after. Experiments with gewürztraminer and sparkling wine look promising as well.
Alcohol Content (%): 13