Ondine Chattan Barrel Select Russian River Pinot Noir 2019
What the critics think
Bronze Winner
Sunset International Wine Competition 2021
What the critics think
Bronze Winner
Sunset International Wine Competition 2021
About the wine
Wondrous Russian River Valley Pinot
- This elegant, one-time Pinot Noir is a bright, delicate Sonoma classic overflowing with deep, refined dark fruit flavors, a silky-smooth texture and a long, oh-so-luxurious finish.
- Thanks to you, Ondine sourced grapes from the revered Russian River Valley, where foggy mornings and warm afternoons help them ripen to perfection for a complex cast of flavors that make this region’s Pinots world famous.
- Ondine aged this Pinot for over a year in French oak barrels to add an extra dash of elegance and a regal backbone of toasty oak character. As part of her Barrel Select line, this Pinot is a one-vintage wonder that will never be repeated – get yours while it lasts!
Best before
Pinot Noir can age beautifully but the flavor profile will change markedly as will the color. Being fairly light in color to start with, the wine will become more brick red with time and the fruit will draw back while earthy aromas and flavors will push to the front. To me the enjoyment of this particular wine is in the interplay of fruit and earth so I recommend drinking it in the near-term, optimally within two years of release. This will be the window where you will get to enjoy the best of both worlds, a lot of fruit and a little earthy/truffle complex to keep the wine grounded and interesting.
Serving advice
I believe that all Pinot Noir benefits from some aeration. While a Vinturi is most likely too aggressive for this (and many) Pinot Noirs, a bit of a splash as it is poured into the glass, a vigorous swirl, or pouring and allowing the wine to sit for 15 minutes prior to sipping will all help to open up the best, most fruit-driven aromas and flavors.
Food match
I love this wine with goat or sheep's milk cheese. A blended cheese spread on a crispy olive oil cracker is the perfect pairing. For something more substantial, my better half is insisting upon Peking Duck with a ginger-scallion sauce made with a base of the drained duck fat. The maltose syrup, 5-spice, and soy are luscious savory partners to the earthy components of the Pinot Noir.
Contains sulphites
Always check the label
USA
Russian River Valley (Sonoma County)
Pinot noir
Smooth Red
14.4% ABV
750ml
Wine profile
Meet the winemaker - Ondine Chattan
Unmistakably one of the North Coast’s top winemaking talents, Ondine Chattan’s worked for wine institutions – famed wineries like Ridge Vineyards, Cline Cellars, and spent decades running famed Healdsburg winery Geyser Peak.
Does Geyser Peak sound familiar? It should – it’s the long-time winemaking home of one legendary Daryl Groom – and it’s where these decades-long colleagues and friends met. They’re still close… in fact, they might collaborate on exclusive wines now and again.*wink.*
Ondine is awestruck by the wine community Angels have built – and she wants to help it grow. “I truly connect to people through the wines I make,” she said. “The stories of the growers, the vineyards, and the process behind the wine are as vital to me as grapes.”
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