Routestock Chardonnay Route 121 (75cl, 13.8%)

A Carneros, California Chardonnay from RouteStock Cellars, made from a proprietary three-clone blend and aged for nine months in French oak barrels, of which 20% are new. The blend is 61% Wente clone, 31% Dijon 76 clone and 8% Chardonnay Musqué clone. Cooling winds from San Pablo Bay moderate temperatures and extend the growing season. It is bottled at 13.8% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The restrained oak program keeps the fruit and the Musqué clone's aromatic contribution in the foreground. The nose shows raw hazelnut, ripe pear, wild sage, jasmine tea and a whisper of vanilla, with a gentle floral lift. The palate moves from lemon rind and green apple to baked pear, peach and light tropical fruit, with creamy texture, mineral undertones, butterscotch and toasty oak. The finish is medium in length with hazelnut, oregano and French oak spice.