Aperture Chenin Blanc 2021 (Clarksburg, CA)

Producer Notes: Our 2021 Chenin Blanc fruit was night-harvested from the cool Calrksberg AVA on the Sacramento River. We lightly whole cluster pressed the fruit to a stainless steel tank where we let the juice chill at 50°F for two days to settle. On the third day, we cleaned and racked it to a smaller tank leaving the heavy sediment behind. Three days later, fermentation starts naturally and keeps below 56*F until half the sugar was consumed. At 18 brix we transferred the young wine to barrels where it spent the remaining time on lees until just before bottling.

We incorporated 80% stainless-steel barrels and 20% neutral French oak barrels for the 2021 vintage. Once it was transferred to barrel, the wine was placed in our cold barrel room to keep the fermentation cool and slow, maintaining freshness and bright aromatics. As the wine slowly fermented for an additional 3 weeks in barrel, we topped and stirred each barrel weekly. The wine stayed in those same barrels for 6 months.

Wine Advocate, 94 Points: The 2021 Chenin Blanc was matured in stainless steel and 20% used oak for six months. It has very pretty scents of white peach, honeysuckle, beeswax, biscuit and green herbs. The palate is silky, mouthwatering and surprisingly gregarious with intense, nutty fruit and a long, elegant finish. Generous yet structured, the Aperture Chenin Blanc is getting better every year, and this 2021 is worthy of 3-5+ years in bottle.

Wine Spectator, 91 Points: Intense and succulent, with lemon curd, passionfruit, apricot preserves and fresh, vibrant acidity. Shows a note of sea salt that adds to the succulence, with a fleshy, juicy body.

Jeb Dunnuck, 90 Points: The 2021 Chenin Blanc has highly floral aromas of cherry blossom, melon and saline minerality. It is ripe and juicy on the palate, with notes of Anjou pear and candied lemon.

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