" We don't sell the wine without touching the vine "
Marimar Estate Acero Chardonnay 2011
No longer available.
| Country: | United States |
| Regions: | California California (Sonoma County) |
| Winery: | Marimar Estate |
| Grape Type: | Chardonnay |
| Vintage: | 2011 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
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Winemaker’s Notes
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Product Description
Don Miguel Vineyard
Russian River Valley AVA
Why "Acero"?
Acero is the Spanish word for steel and refers to the fact that this wine has never seen any oak. Especially selected for fruit intensity and aromatics, the grapes are fermented in stainless steel to capture the purity of the flavors. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine is kept in the tank until bottling in late spring.
The Clones
The blend of clones in the 2011 Acero is 67% See and 33% Rued.
The Vinification
The grapes were harvested October 1-2, gently whole-cluster pressed and cold fermented together in stainless steel tanks at 55 degrees F. After completing the primary fermentation, the wine went through 100% malolactic in the same tank. It was bottled in August 2012.
Tasting Notes
This is another classic bottling of Acero -- attractive bright fruit, fresh and lively, with notes of lemon cream, white peach and ginger. Crisp and vibrant in the mid palate, it shows great balance, full flavors and a dry, long finish. It is easy to drink and to enjoy, perfect with foods like tapas and light dishes. I would recommend serving it at 46-48 F.
Winery: Marimar Estate
The Marimar Estate
Exporting a Legacy To California
Nestled in the rolling hills of western Sonoma County, the Russian River/Green Valley appellation is a perfect microclimate for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Only 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and 50 miles north of San Francisco, the site is influenced by the sea's cooling breezes and drifting fog. That is why Marimar Torres selected this privileged location to "export" the Torres family legacy of fine wines to California.
A Catalan Farmhouse-Winery
Built in 1992 with a capacity of 15,000 cases, the winery sits on a hill surrounded by vines. The production wing is outfitted with carefully selected equipment, to allow the control essential to producing a wine based on minimal handling. Its three barrel rooms with independent temperature and humidity controls provide flexibility to experiment with various vinification techniques, in order to best express the fruit's character.
The Marimar Vineyard
The Don Miguel Vineyard: A Unique Site
Marimar came to live in California in 1975. After two years of searching, she acquired the land and began planting the vineyard in 1986. Today there are 30 acres planted with Chardonnay and 30 with Pinot Noir. The wines are made entirely from estate-grown grapes. Named in honor of the late patriarch of the family, the vineyard is unique in California because it is totally European in style. The vines are trained very close to the ground on an open vertical trellis, following the slope of an east-facing hillside; the rootstocks are phylloxera resistant; and the planting density is 2000 vines per acre, four times more than is traditional in California. Such high density promotes root competition and diminishes vigor, naturally reducing the output per vine.
Yields are low and labor is intensive, but the vines live longer and produce grapes with greater concentration of flavors, more refined and elegant aromas, and better balance. To contribute complexity, Marimar did extensive research to select several clones of each varietal: See, Rued and Spring Mountain for Chardonnay; and Cristina 88, Swan, Pommard, Lee, Dijon 115 and Dijon 667 for Pinot Noir. Each clone brings different attributes to the final blend, resulting in wines with deep layers of flavor
- back
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