2022 J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay
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Wine Enthusiast, April 2024
The 2022 Riverstone exhibits enticing aromas of ripe citrus, white nectarine, and baking spices. The rich texture and balanced acidity on the palate from barrel aging sur lie offers flavors of ripe Meyer lemon, citrus cream, hazelnut, cocoa, and a hint of oak on the long finish.
— Kristen Barnhisel, winemaker, white wine
Wine Details
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Composition Blend
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100%
Chardonnay
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Origin
Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, CA
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Cellaring
Crafted to be enjoyed now, up to five years of vintage date.
5 Years -
Food Pairings
This classic, cool-climate Chardonnay can be enjoyed as an aperitif with a triple cream brie or Humboldt Fog goat cheese; it is equally at home accompanying a fresh seafood risotto, mussels in white wine sauce, or chicken piccata.
For thirty vintages, a classic Monterey Chardonnay wine from the cool-climate Arroyo Seco appellation. This wine has earned the “Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing” seal from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
Vineyards
The vines for our J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay are grown primarily on Elder loam soils underlain by “riverstones” deposited over thousands of years by the Arroyo Seco River. This unique combination of sandy loam and cobblestones keeps the vines’ growth and fruit in balance, while the cool climate and winds off nearby Monterey Bay extend the growing season - retaining the natural grape acids and intense varietal character of Chardonnay.
Vintage
The 2022 growing season in the Arroyo Seco was characterized by a typically cool spring. During the summer, foggy mornings and evenings, with daytime highs in the 80s provided optimum temperatures for ripening Chardonnay. The 2022 harvest began on September 12th and finished on October 18th. The Riverstone Chardonnay is comprised of ten different Chardonnay clones - 4, 5, 17, 76, 95, 96, 548, 809, Hyde-Wente, and Mt Eden - each adding to the layered complexity of flavors and textures in the final blend.
