This is a predominantly Rich & Full wine, but it shares structural nuances of Balance & Finesse as described in the tasting note below.
Tasting Notes
Full-bodied, with plus acidity that balances the richness of the ripe apple and melon fruit, followed by more subtle citrus, mint, mineral, and salt, along with a kiss of toasted oak on the finish.
Body is the impression of a wines weight, density, or its ‘mouth-feel’. Some wines feel weighty, or full bodied, while others feel light bodied. Wine runs the gamut from light to full, with most falling somewhere in between.
ACIDITY
Low
Moderate
Balanced
Crisp
High
Acidity is a foundational component in wine. In fact, low acidity, or ‘flabby’ wine (as the term suggests) is a negative. You can sense acidity mainly on the sides of your tongue. Acidity generally ranges from balanced to high. Crisp acidity adds freshness, making your mouth water. Acidity is a necessary element and helps to balance other components.
SWEETNESS
Dry
Off Dry
Medium Dry
Medium Sweet
Very Sweet
Most wines are characterized as dry to off-dry, but there are some grape varietals, like Riesling, that run the gamut from dry to sweet. The tip of the tongue mainly detects sweetness, which is why it is often the primary characteristic detected. Sweetness is derived from residual sugar that did not ferment into alcohol.
ALCOHOL
13.5%
Alcohol is the by-product of fermentation. Differing grape varieties have differing potential alcohol levels, but regardless warmer areas result in riper grapes resulting in higher alcohol. Alcohol level is an objective number, but its affect on its palate impression is largely determined with how well integrated and balanced it is with other components.
Restraint in not only its opulence but also in its price.
GRAPE VARIETAL(S)
Chardonnay
100%Shar-do-NAY
Chardonnay may be the most versatile white wine grape, often seen as a blank canvas. It displays various flavors and aromas depending on where it is grown and more specifically, how it is made. It can range in Palate Character from Bright & Crisp to Rich & Full depending on the climate. It is also particularly malleable and highly affected by winemaking choices like as malolactic fermentation, lees stirring, barrel fermentation and ageing practices.
Valravn was launched in 2014 when Baron Ziegler began buying Zinfandel grapes from a friend’s property of old, bush-pruned vines. These wines should not be confused with mass-produced Zin.
Almost a decade later, Mr. Ziegler and winemaker Rob Fischer now make several wine varietals throughout Sonoma, through a dynamic group of growers, winemakers, and vineyard owners.
Their focus is to join with the best sites and partners and make affordable, authentic wines, with hand-on production from the vineyard to the bottle.
Ripe Apple
Salt
Toast
