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The Clos LaChance Special Selection Series includes only wines that the Clos LaChance Winemaking team feel are unique and worthy of being showcased on their own. Whether it be a Pinot Noir from a tiny 3-acre vineyard tucked in the Santa Cruz Mountains or a barrel-select Cabernet Sauvignon from Block 20 in the Clos LaChance Estate Vineyard, each Special Selection wine is made to ensure the highest quality wine in the bottle. The quantities of each Special Selection wine are very limited, usually between 200-400 cases per vintage.
VINEYARD DETAILS
The rugged topography of the Santa Cruz Mountains limits the size of individual vineyards. The costs associated with planting small mountain vineyards limits the overall acreage devoted to grapes in this cool coastal appellation. The Liebeler Vineyard is located within the town limits of Woodside, CA. It also falls within the unique elevation requirements of the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. The vineyard is quite small—only 2.5 acres of Chardonnay are planted. Low-nutrient soils and cooling coastal fog keep Liebeler grapes on the vine into the latter part of the harvest season.
WINEMAKER‘S NOTES
On the nose, this wine has aromas of rich, tropical fruit and apple cobbler. Scents of crème brûlée, sweet peach and honeysuckle are also present in this complex Chardonnay. Upon first sip, the entrance to the palate is seduced with flavors of mango, red apple and ripe nectarine flavors. These are quickly followed by notes of hazelnut, honeycomb, brown sugar and the spice of new French oak on the finish.
WINEMAKING
The grapes were hand-picked and immediately brought to the winery where they were wholecluster pressed. The free run-juice was cold settled for 24 hours then racked to the barrels where both primary and malolactic fermentation took place. The lees were stirred twice a week for 12 weeks, then once a month thereafter. The wine aged for 15 months in 75% new French oak barrels and was racked only prior to bottling.
There was no fining or filtering, resulting in a naturally produced hand-crafted wine that may throw a sediment.
FOOD PAIRING
Shrimp Scampi, Sea Bass, Fettuccine with Clam Sauce, Pecorino Cheese or a Double Cream Camembert or Brie.
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