Chef Luc LaTouche/A French Feast/The wines Of Rodney Strong Vineyards

Today we decided to stop work early and prepare as chef Luc Latouche will arrive shortly.The early summer day is very warm and we we enjoy a number of courses with Chef Luc.First let's look at the wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards.We will start with Chardonnay and move on to Pinot Noirs from this great Sonoma winery. 2014 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ESTATE WINEMAKING NOTES Our Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is brimming with apple, pear, pineapple and lemongrass with a core of bright acidity and a long toasty finish. This wine was barrel fermented in new French oak creating toasty vanilla and spice complexities in the wine. We regularly stirred the lees during the 10 months of barrel aging to add richness and texture. The remaining portion was cold fermented in stainless steel, where malolactic fermentation brought additional character. The 2014 Reserve Chardonnay has wonderful aromas of baked apple, pineapple and baking spices. On the palate the creamy lemon meringue and nutmeg notes are well balanced by crisp acidity and a rich mouthfeel. FOOD PAIRINGS Enjoy this Chardonnay now with cheese raviolis with cream sauce, herb crusted halibut, roasted chicken, or cellar it for enjoyment over the next 3 to 5 years. THE VINEYARDS A mild, dry winter followed by a replenishing amount of rain in February and early March of 2014 encouraged the vine buds to push a little earlier than normal. The spring was warm, dry and frost free, thankfully. Overcast days became the norm in late July and August, helping to preserve berry acidity. Higher than average yields proved fortuitous in slowing the pace of ripening as the 2014 growing season would register to be the warmest in many years. We picked the Garfield Chardonnay on September 17, with the clone 15 coming in at 23.0 brix and the clone 76 at 24.0 brix. The acidity was perfect, the flavors were complex, plus we dodged a little sprinkling of rain that fell that evening. we also have two Pinot Noirs from Rodney Strong Vineyards. WINEMAKING NOTES Grown in some of the coolest areas within the Sonoma Coast region, this traditionally made Pinot Noir aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, a third of them new. This mediumbodied wine starts with aromas of pomegranate, cola, raspberry and spice, with crisp acidity and vibrant fruit and spice fl avors that fi nish smooth and silky. HISTORY Situated in the Southern and Western end of Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast is a distinct region that is directly infl uenced by the Pacifi c Ocean and is known to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of exceptional complexity with true varietal and terroir characteristics unique to the region. Sonoma Coast’s climate means the region is ideally suited to cold-climate viticulture, encouraging the full expression of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are very different to those from warmer regions. Our Pinot Noir comes from two distinct areas of Sonoma Coast — a majority from Green Valley and the remainder from Petaluma Gap. Green Valley is known to be the coldest area within the AVA with a strong coastal climate infl uence due to constant fog in the miles near the Pacifi c Ocean and the channel created to bring that fog further inland via the Russian River and Petaluma Gap. Combined with its unique soil type — Goldridge, Green Valley Pinot Noir exhibits unique characteristics true to coolclimate Sonoma Coast and our vineyards within Green Valley help us create an exemplary medium-bodied, acidic, elegant Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. THE VINEYARDS 2013 was the kind of growing season that most would wish we could have every year: a dry, frost-free spring, a warm summer without heat spikes, and a warm, rain free autumn that allows for picking all varieties in their turn when they are perfectly mature. This Pinot Noir was harvested from vineyards in Sonoma Coast between September 11th and September 17th. We are now ready to enjoy a few dishes with these great wines.Join us as we visit with Greg Morthole,and then chef Luc Latouche!Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy the chardonnay first. Click here as we enjoy great Pinot Noirs from Rodney Strong Vineyards.