Januik "Cold Creek Vineyard" Chardonnay 2013
(Columbia Valley, Washington)
Regular price $30.00 Sale price $28.97 Save $1.03
12-PACK PRICE = $26.97 per item (add 12+ quantity to your basket)
Notes from the Winemaker:
TASTING NOTES:
Rich and elegant, the Cold Creek Vineyard Chardonnay has hints of citrus, pear, spice, and green apple. It is creamy on the palate and has a bright, focused lingering finish.
VINTAGE:
Over the course of the last few vintages, the Columbia Valley has seen a shift from two of last decade’s cooler vintages in 2010 and 2011 to the warmest vintage of the last ten years in 2013. An early bud break was followed by warm temperatures that persisted through August. Harvest started earlier than normal but cool September temperatures slowed ripening considerably, and most grapes benefited from the drawn-out hang time that occurred because of these cooler temperatures.
VINEYARDS:
At Januik Winery, we believe single vineyard wines should only be made when a particular site yields an exceptional wine that reflects the unique character of the vineyard. I started working with Cold Creek Vineyard in 1990, and it has always been my favorite Chardonnay site in the state. Perhaps more than any other vineyard in the state, this site consistently produces Chardonnay of the highest quality year after year.
WINEMAKING:
Following traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques, grapes were harvested at the peak of flavor, pressed and fermented in equal amounts of new and once used French oak barrels. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation for added complexity and richness and was aged sur lie for ten months to integrate the oak and fruit before blending and bottling during the summer of 2014.
ANALYSIS AT BOTTLING
Total Acidity: 0.58g/100ml
pH: 3.34
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Cases: 693
Bottling Date: August 21, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
91 Points - Wine Spectator (2012 Vintage):
"Fresh and fleshy, showing citrusy apple and spice flavors that dance lightly through the finish, lingering attentively. Drink now through 2017. 697 cases made." – HS (Oct 15, 2014)
91 Points - Stephen Tanzer (2012 Vintage):
"Good bright straw-yellow. Peach, nectarine, white plum, apple and sexy oak spices on the nose. Tactile and ripe, conveying a small-berry impression of concentration to its sweet stone fruit flavors. Juicy, suave and long on the finish, with no phenolic roughness. A superb Washington chardonnay. Winemaker Mike Januik describes 2012 as "a good, ripe vintage: riper and earlier than 2011." This was his 22nd year working with this vineyard." - Stephen Tanzer (November 2013)
89 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2011 Vintage):
"A very well-made white that has classy richness as well as an overall fresh profile, the 2011 Chardonnay Cold Creek Vineyard (100% Chardonnay) offers up pure, clean aromas and flavors of white peaches, pear, white flowers, honeysuckle and hints of minerality. This gives way to a medium-bodied, balanced and refreshing palate that has admirable mid-palate depth and solid length on the finish. Enjoy bottles over the coming 2-3 years. Drink now-2017." - Jeb Dunnuck (Jun 2013)
TASTING NOTES:
Rich and elegant, the Cold Creek Vineyard Chardonnay has hints of citrus, pear, spice, and green apple. It is creamy on the palate and has a bright, focused lingering finish.
VINTAGE:
Over the course of the last few vintages, the Columbia Valley has seen a shift from two of last decade’s cooler vintages in 2010 and 2011 to the warmest vintage of the last ten years in 2013. An early bud break was followed by warm temperatures that persisted through August. Harvest started earlier than normal but cool September temperatures slowed ripening considerably, and most grapes benefited from the drawn-out hang time that occurred because of these cooler temperatures.
VINEYARDS:
At Januik Winery, we believe single vineyard wines should only be made when a particular site yields an exceptional wine that reflects the unique character of the vineyard. I started working with Cold Creek Vineyard in 1990, and it has always been my favorite Chardonnay site in the state. Perhaps more than any other vineyard in the state, this site consistently produces Chardonnay of the highest quality year after year.
WINEMAKING:
Following traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques, grapes were harvested at the peak of flavor, pressed and fermented in equal amounts of new and once used French oak barrels. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation for added complexity and richness and was aged sur lie for ten months to integrate the oak and fruit before blending and bottling during the summer of 2014.
ANALYSIS AT BOTTLING
Total Acidity: 0.58g/100ml
pH: 3.34
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Cases: 693
Bottling Date: August 21, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
91 Points - Wine Spectator (2012 Vintage):
"Fresh and fleshy, showing citrusy apple and spice flavors that dance lightly through the finish, lingering attentively. Drink now through 2017. 697 cases made." – HS (Oct 15, 2014)
91 Points - Stephen Tanzer (2012 Vintage):
"Good bright straw-yellow. Peach, nectarine, white plum, apple and sexy oak spices on the nose. Tactile and ripe, conveying a small-berry impression of concentration to its sweet stone fruit flavors. Juicy, suave and long on the finish, with no phenolic roughness. A superb Washington chardonnay. Winemaker Mike Januik describes 2012 as "a good, ripe vintage: riper and earlier than 2011." This was his 22nd year working with this vineyard." - Stephen Tanzer (November 2013)
89 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2011 Vintage):
"A very well-made white that has classy richness as well as an overall fresh profile, the 2011 Chardonnay Cold Creek Vineyard (100% Chardonnay) offers up pure, clean aromas and flavors of white peaches, pear, white flowers, honeysuckle and hints of minerality. This gives way to a medium-bodied, balanced and refreshing palate that has admirable mid-palate depth and solid length on the finish. Enjoy bottles over the coming 2-3 years. Drink now-2017." - Jeb Dunnuck (Jun 2013)