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About The Wine

Fly over the Russian River region and you will see some of the most convoluted terrain in all of California. It's an amazing site. There are few, if any large, flat parcels in the district. Instead, there are endless hills, valleys, mini-mountains and tiny forests scattered chock-a-block throughout the countryside. This rugged terrain offers small, hand-farmed vineyards that rank among the finest in the state. To the immediate west is the Pacific Ocean, the massive, cold engine that drives the region's unusual weather. It creates the fog and the cooling winds that make the Russian River such a great place for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Alary Vineyards has been one of our favorite sources of Chardonnay since 1987. Located off Westside Road in the Russian River Valley AVA, it is a 12-acre, hillside property surrounded by oaks, coyote brush and neighboring vineyards. It is cool and rocky, low-yielding, and planted to the Belle Terre, Dijon and Rued clones of Chardonnay. We have been bottling a small portion of Alary as a single-vineyard designate since the 2000 vintage.

Tasting Notes

The 2006 Alary demonstrates the influence of clones, technique and terroir. The mix of Dijon, Belle Terre and Rued clones brings an intense tropical note to the bouquet. The traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques add a creamy, nutty, toasted component to the nose and palate. Finally, the cool, maritime terroir of the Russian River provides the wine with a satisfying structure and vibrancy. This is beautifully balanced and wonderfully complex Chardonnay.

Wine Details