Entrepreneur Wines’ 2016Chardonnay hails from theBacigalupi Vineyards on the west side of the Russian River. Located just south of Healdsburg and northwest of Windsor, these vineyards were made famous in 1976 by Mike Grgich when he was Winemaker at Chateau Montelena. The fruit for the prized Chardonnay was harvested from the Bacigalupi Vineyards. The resulting wine won the White Wine Competition at the Judgment of Paris in 1976. (The competition that turned the world of wine upside down. Check out the Alan Rickman movie, “Bottle Shock.”). That vineyard is still producing world class wines, and our vines are more than 60 years old.

WINEMAKER’S REVIEW

With its light yellow straw hue and inviting approach, the 2016 Entrepreneur Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay belies deep roots and surprising complexity. But, not so surprising considering the vineyard: the Bacigalupi family has been growing world-class Chardonnay in the Russian River Valley for three generations. Identified by its etherial perfume of light honey, dried stone fruit, barrel vanillin, and a touch of toffee, this vintage stands with the rest. Gentle and coating on the palate, with a tropical twist of citrus swirling at the finish.

Our 2014 Pinot Noir is from the Dutton Ranch property outside Sebastopol, California, in the Russian River Valley AVA (Green Valley sub-appellation). Our specific vineyard is a 26 acre parcel called “Widdoes”, with gently rolling hills, warm summer afternoons and cool evenings that contribute to the dense pine-cone-like(“pinot”) clusters of nearly black (“noir”) berries. The resulting wine (Inspired by the classical French Burgundy region where Pinot Noir has been grown since the 14th Century) is medium, full-body in color – with deep berry notes of red & black cherry.

WINEMAKER’S REVIEW

This is a beautiful spice box mélange of bright red, racy fruit, fresh crushed raspberry, Christmas spice, and a touch of clove and vanillin from the 40% new French Oak. The aromas come in waves of absolute delight. The palate is striking with near perfect balance of acidity, weight of fruit and a strength of tannin. The Widdoes is a dry farmed, old vine, vineyard that has a stoic demeanor in the fruit it yields. That strength and balances allows for a lovely food pairing wine that will age most gracefully. I believe cellared correctly, this wine will survive to 2029 and well beyond.

That vineyard is still producing world class wines. The 2013 Entrepreneur Wines Chardonnay reveals the essence of the still resident understated winemaking power of the fruit from this vineyard.

WINEMAKER’S REVIEW

The aromatic fragrances of White Moonlight Nasturtiums and the juicy white flesh of Zephyr Nectarines, wrap themselves around solid minerality — granite, white chalky limestone, and playful wet pebbles you’d use to skim the water of a still shallow lake.This opens up to delicate scents of dusty white rose and grapefruit blossoms. The oak is neutral to mid-to-light-medium toast. The palate richly confirms the nose, and is redolent with pink grapefruit and firm white stone fruit sorbet. The wine is dry, and soft on the palate with medium, yet firm acid — not bracing, nicely balanced — that lingers on the palate through the elegant, lemon-lime blossom finish.