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Bright, fruit-forward Chardonnay with lime zest, Meyer lemon, Honeycrisp apple and Bosc pear, white flowers, toasted almond and a light mineral note. Crisp acidity carries lemon, pineapple and subtle barrel spice into a long, velvety finish.
Available in store
Close100% Chardonnay
Food pairings: Chicken, prawns and scallops, salmon, pork, risotto and creamy pasta dishes.
Winemaking: For the 2024 vintage the blend draws on all six Sonoma-Cutrer estate vineyards plus a small group of selected growers. The grapes are picked in the early morning and cooled to keep their fresh flavors and natural acidity, sorted by hand and pressed as whole clusters. The golden-green free-run juice settles in tank for a few days before fermenting, about three quarters in oak barrels and a quarter in stainless steel. The wine goes through full malolactic fermentation and ages on its lees for nine months in French oak, about 20% of it new.
Vineyards and terroir: Russian River Ranches is a cuvée of distinct vineyard lots from across the cool Sonoma Coast appellation, each adding its own character. The 2024 season began with a cool winter, then moderate summer heat and cool nights let the fruit ripen while keeping Sonoma-Cutrer's signature acidity, and a brief heat spike in late September gave the cooler sites a final push to full flavor.
Family and history: Sonoma-Cutrer was founded by Brice Cutrer Jones, a former Air Force pilot who planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley in the 1970s, when Chardonnay was still rare in the county, with a vision of California wine made in the French tradition. The first wines followed in 1981, made by William "Bill" Bonetti, an early champion of barrel-fermented Chardonnay, and Russian River Ranches has been made ever since. The winery and its Homeplace in Windsor, with two professional croquet lawns, once hosted a celebrated world croquet championship. Today Sonoma-Cutrer belongs to The Duckhorn Portfolio, and Director of Winemaking Cara Morrison, who joined in 2005, crafts its Chardonnays in a classic Burgundian style.
In the pictures: The Sonoma-Cutrer winery and tasting terrace above its croquet lawns in Windsor, Russian River Valley (photo: © Sonoma-Cutrer / The Duckhorn Portfolio, trade and media assets). Director of Winemaking Cara Morrison in the vineyard (photo: © Sonoma-Cutrer / The Duckhorn Portfolio, trade and media assets).
