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Adobe Road 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

Adobe Road 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

What We Say 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

QPR ALERT:

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Mission Codename: The Winners Circle

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Operative favorite, Adobe Road Winery. Secure the latest vintage of their distinctive Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Adobe Road Winery

Wine Subject: 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

Winemaker: Michael Scorsone

Backgrounder: The Sonoma Coast AVA, established in 1987, is the area directly adjacent to the Pacific coastline of Sonoma County. The ocean’s influence causing a cooler, higher rainfall and foggy climate most influences the vineyards of this region, many of which have exceptional views of the mighty Pacific. These factors cause grapes to mature and ripen more slowly which is idea for Burgundian varietals like Chardonnay. The region is approximately 750 square miles with about 7,000 acres under vine.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep golden-yellow, maintaining even coloration from core to edge. The wine glints as its edges catch the light. Skinny tears start high on the glass, where they are quick to appear before they move slowly and steadily down the glass.

Smell – Zesty and sweet, with lemon curd, citrus peel and dried apricot. As the wine warms, slightly, tropical notes of pineapple, passionfruit and mango begin to emerge. Then, thee wine opens further, revealing white flowers, slate minerals and a hint of cedar.

Feel – Soft and light when well chilled. If you allow the wine to warm, slightly, it becomes more round and silky. It shows some weight and complexity at the mid-palate, where it takes on a slightly dry feel.

Taste – Sweet citrus and pineapple mingle with dried white flower petal, dried apricot, white peach and a hint of kiwi. Again, allow the wine to warm slightly, and witness how new flavors emerge, including green melon and loquot flesh.

Finish – Favors linger for a long time, eventually culminating in a softly dry feel with flavors of white flowers, minerals and subtle pineapple.

Conclusion – This is a perfectly lovely Chardonnay that our tasting panel really enjoyed. Out of the chiller, the wine has a lighthearted feel. When it warms, even slightly, it really comes alive, revealing a softer feel, deeper aromatics and a bevvy of flavors that simply were not there before. This oaked Chardonnay certainly has some oak character, but not in a way that overpowers the experience. A fantastic wine with a roast chicken or a creamy pasta, this wine deserves our hearty recommendation – and a place on your table.

Mission Report:

Adobe Road winemaker, Michael Scorsone could not be located for an interview about today’s wine. Rest assured our agents are searching the vineyards for him. Check back for a full interview, the next time we showcase another fantastic Adobe Road wine.

Wine Spies Winery Check:

The approximate location of the Adobe Road tasting room, in the heart of the town of Sonoma, California, can be seen in this satellite photo.

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What the Winery Says Adobe Road

Adobe Road
Adobe Road

About This Wine:

Rich and golden in color, we’ve waited a long time for this Chardonnay. Apricot and peach tones compliment the butterscotch flavors and entangle with tropical fruit nuances, creating a golden and long lingering finish.

About The Winery:

Adobe Road is a small, family-owned winery located in Petaluma. We specialize in flavorful, distinctive wines. Each of our vintages is handcrafted with fine attention to detail, for a unique taste and experience. Our wines are created in small lots, allowing precise quality control to ensure that every bottle is just the way our wine artisans intended. Traditionally, Adobe Road has produced rich red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, but 2006 brings a lighter Sauvignon Blanc to our tasting room.

Adobe Road Winery is owned by renowned sports car racer and entrepreneur Kevin Buckler and his wife, Debra. Adobe Road Winery produces award winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Petite Sirah exclusively from Sonoma County sources. The tasting room is located in Petaluma, California. In 1995 Kevin founded The Racer’s Group (TRG) and grew it into an internationally prominent manufacturer and distributor of performance Porsche parts, while simultaneously building a career as a successful endurance sportscar racer and team owner. Kevin’s accomplishments as a driver include class wins at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2002) and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans (2002), an overall win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2003), and the title of Porsche World Cup Champion in 2002. As a team owner, Kevin has directed the growth of The Racer’s Group into an internationally-acclaimed racing team.

With friends, the Bucklers started making “garage wine”, which, after prodding from enthusiastic friends started commercially bottling under the Adobe Road label in 1999. Through Kevin’s good connections, he has acquired grapes from some very prestigious vineyards, which he handcrafts into extremely limited-production wines. The awards have followed, with the Adobe Road 2001 Zinfandel winning a Silver medal in the prestigious Orange County Fair Wine Competition. In March of 2005, Adobe Road brought home the gold, with the 2002 Pinot Noir winning a Gold Medal – Best of Class; the 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon placing Silver and the 2002 Zinfandel receiving Bronze at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. With the goal of producing exceptional wines by hand-crafting small lots of red varietals exclusively from Sonoma County, the Bucklers have dedicated themselves to seeing their vision through to reality, and the results are paying off.

Technical Analysis:

Appellation: Sonoma Coast

Winemaking: Hand harvested whole cluster pressed.

Barrel Aging: French Oak

Release: April 2011

Alcohol: 12.5%

Adobe Road 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 750ml Wine Bottle
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Adobe Road 2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Feb 11, 2012 at 11:59 pm
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