Unassuming California Chardonnay - White Rock Chardonnay 2002, Napa Valley California

White Rock Vineyards was the first winery in the Stag's Leap area that I had ever visited. A bottle of the 2002 Chardonnay has been hanging out in my refrigerator for the past 2 1/2 years. Note to everyone - fridges are less than ideal for long term storage. Do not make my mistake.

Usually for ordinary Chardonnays, 2002 would be on the old side, but there are many exceptions to this and White Rock is one of them. A lot of that has to do with the meticulous vineyard management and amazing winemaking going on in that White Rock hidey-hole of a cave winery. Because of their painstaking dedication to making excellent wines -- their 2002 Chardonnay emerged from my frigo unscathed. I'm wondering how much better it would show if I had treated it with the same respect in which it was made.

Some quick history on White Rock -- they are located in the Stag's Leap district of Napa Valley - for those of you who are familiar with the area - Stag's Leap is around the Silverado trail. White Rock is west of the Silverado trail up down and around a windy road in the foothills of the Napa Mountains. The map at the header is taken from an old book of Napa maps and it's actually a rendition of the White Rock winery as it was in 1890. So don't go to White Rock looking for a huge fanfare, this family run winery is as subtle and unassuming as their wines - but like the wines - it's what's inside that is truly remarkable. Sorry that was a little cheesy/leesy. The Vanderhussen family started this winery in 1977 - a husband an a wife (French and Napa-ian straight from graduating from Berkeley.. how hippie-ly romantic)

The winery is basically organically run - no herbicides, no pesticides. They have 36 acres (tiny) . They produce around 3000 cases (boutique-y) and their focus is on Bordeaux varietals for the reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot -- quantity in that order). They also have Dijon clones of Chardonnay on their cooler areas of the vineyard. White Rock the name is from the soil there -- it is a white volcanic ash (ash does wonderful things to wine) and it is also that same rock that they have hollowed out a cave for their winery. So everything is temperature controlled. They age the Chardonnay on the lees, age it in French oak barrels, and allow it only to go through partial malolactic fermentation. The result is an amazing creaminess paired with a beautiful acidity that is more reminiscent of cooler climate Chardonnays than what normally comes to mind when we think California Chardonnay. There is no oaky, buttery, toffee flavors in this bouteille. I do love toffee though.

Ok - so onto their 2002 Chardonnay
color - light golden
nose - mineral, lemon curd, golden apple
palate - clean, crisp, bright, meyer lemon, minerality

Check out their website - they are the epitome of family owned/operated wineries. These are he people that I want to be supporting. Plus - download sounds of the fermenting wines... it's wild... they call it Bebop in the barrel.
www.whiterockvineyards.com