2003 Benziger Reserve Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Carneros (750ml) (Benziger Family Winery / Benziger Reserve Wines) -- Benziger & Imagery Online Store Shopping Cart -- (750ml) Carneros Vineyards, Sangiacomo Chardonnay, Reserve Benziger 2003

<H1>2003 Benziger Reserve Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Carneros (750ml) -- Benziger & Imagery Online Store Shopping Cart</H1> $29.00 -- It is full bodied and very fleshy on the palate, with excellent depth of flavor, and a long, mildly oaky finish. It tastes of tropical fruit, peach, lemon, toasted oak, and baked bread. <IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/benziger/images/BZREChard.jpg" ALIGN=right ALT="2003 Benziger Reserve Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Carneros (750ml)" NAME="2003 Benziger Reserve Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Carneros (750ml)" BORDER=0 HSPACE=10> VINTAGE 2003 RELEASE DATE June 2005 CASE PRODUCTION 832 cases AVAILABILITY Select markets nationally APPELLATION Carneros VINEYARD Sangiacomo VINIFICATION: The lots with the finest track record were culled and re-selected again at the winery. These were 100% cold (53 degrees F) barrel-fermented for about five weeks, underwent partial malolactic fermentation and were aged for 9 months in French oak barrels. The finest barrels were selected, blended and bottled in August 2004. Alcohol 14.5%, Total Acidity .57, pH 3.46, Residual Sugar .07%. VINTAGE: The season began on a wet note - we got almost a year's average rainfall in December 2002 – but an unseasonably warm spring gave us an early bud break in March. The vines began to grow and the weather turned cold and wet again in April; depending on location we had rain between 20 to 26 days during April. This cool overcast weather virtually stopped vine growth and filled the soil with water. As it turned out, April rains and soil moisture ended up being the big story of 2003, delaying ripening. Warm weather in May got things going again with explosive growth, then June cooled off and it became apparent that it was going to be a late harvest. There were rumblings about similarities with 1998, but with record heat in July, the situation looked hopeful. August cooled some and brought a tropical weather pattern and the fear of rain. The weather warmed in late September and it became a challenge to control sugars while waiting for flavor maturity. When harvest began in mid-September, thanks to a cooling trend, we were able to bring in fruit with great ripeness and maturity through October. 2003 was unique, with weather that was all over the board. But we got what we needed from Mother Nature at critical times and our grapes fared beautifully. <LI>SKU: 310103 Other products in the category <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Category10" TITLE="Benziger Family Winery">Benziger Family Winery</A> / <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Category6" TITLE="Benziger Reserve Wines">Benziger Reserve Wines</A>: <LI><A HREF=http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Product546 TITLE="2005 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma Valley (750ml)">2005 Benziger Reserve Merlot, Sonoma Valley (750ml)</A> -- Luscious in texture, with layered notes of black cherry, toasted oak, cassis and tobacco, the wine has long and persistent finish. . <LI><A HREF=http://www.nexternal.com/benziger/Product894 TITLE="2006 Benziger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County (750ml)">2006 Benziger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County (750ml)</A> -- 2006 Benziger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com/benziger" TITLE="Benziger & Imagery Online Store Products">Benziger & Imagery Online Store Products</A> <A HREF="http://www.benziger.com">Benziger & Imagery Online Store</A> Benziger & Imagery Online Store Online Store powered by Nexternal <A HREF="http://www.nexternal.com" TITLE="shopping cart software">shopping cart software</A>

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