Coming up on our 20th harvest (!) we still find ourselves surprised each year with new discoveries and learning experiences. The 2020 Barrel Climber Chardonnay was this vintage’s revelation and humbled us with a somehow never-before conceived marriage of two very different sources: the nervy Green Acres and the gregarious Stiling (our source for Luke’s Grove).
The former vineyard delivers Sonoma Coast vibrancy, structure and cooler climate punchiness while the latter vineyard brings the luscious, creamy texture and lifted, floral aromatics of classic Russian River fruit. An easy choice once combined and the clear winner for the 2020 Barrel Climber cuvée. How did we not discover this sooner? So many choices, as each barrel is a separate fermentation and different entity on its own, so there’s always a mind-boggling array of diversity and potential!
Opulence and freshness combine for a real sweet spot style of Chardonnay. Baked apple and pear, lemon curd and citrus oil, white florals, clove and nutmeg – they’re all here in this delightfully surprising cuvée.
Aged in puncheon (roughly 30% new) for an extended period, we’re completely smitten with the results and are already finding it rather irresistible as a young wine. You could think of it as Green Acres with more succulence or Stiling with a more vital structure but that doesn’t tell the whole story. As with any good blend, the sum is greater than the parts.
34 cases – that’s all we have so please grab some early if you want to get in on this one!
DRINKING WINDOWS
Prime drinking: Late 2022 through 2029 Graceful ageability: 2031+
VINEYARDS
87% Green Acres | 13% Stiling
CLONES
87% Hyde | 13% Rued
STATS
pH: 3.36 | TA: 7.3 | Alcohol: 13.6 Bottling: May 26, 2022 | Release: Fall 2022 Cases Produced: 34
Direct sales are allocated exclusively to EK Allocation List members at a 10% discount. Orders of 6+ bottles save an additional 50% off shipping. New releases ship twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Join EK Allocation List
CUSTOMIZED ALLOCATIONS
You may customize your spring and fall allocations any way you like, from 0–12 bottles of each wine. (Small-lot and list-only wines will have lower limits.) To modify your allocations, click on MY ALLOCATION above. Join EK Allocation List
REORDERS
Wines often sell out at or close to release, so we encourage making the most of your spring and fall allocations. As long as wine remains, you are welcome to reorder online through our EK Special Order store. Or contact John Gillis at john@erickentwines.com or 415.244.9453.
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