Dutch Bill Creek
2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Chardonnay •Heintz Ranch
Russian River Valley
Mission Briefing
Ode to Dutch Bill
For the third successive vintage in a row, we are very pleased to be showing the delightfully approachable 2009 Dutch Bill Creek Russian River Valley Chardonnay.
With a fresh, bright nose and bright, fresh flavors on the palate, this wine delivers a delightful drinking experience - at a very budget-friendly price.
This is a food friendly wine that encompasses a range of flavors and aromas. There is an earthiness and a brightness that give the wine great balance.
Enjoy well-chilled, but for a smoother and more flavorful experience, allow the wine to warm just slightly in the glass before enjoying.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Medium golden hues with a heavy-looking and viscous surface. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Clover honey and mixed citrus meld with acacia petals, dried apricot, candied walnut and berry bramble (without the berries). |
| Taste: | Citrus, lemon curd, hazelnut, apricot, nectarine and flinty minerals. |
| Finish: | Starts bold and then tails off slowly. Citrus persists at the edges of the palate for a very long time. At the very end, flint and white pepper persist the longest. |
| Pairing: | Barbequed salmon with a lemon mignonette sauce. |
What the Winery Says
2009 Dutch Bill Creek Chardonnay
- Appellation
- Russian River Valley (1/3 each Heintz Ranch/Searby/Boriolo Vineyards)
- Bottled
- 3/7/11 - 154 cases
- ABV
- 14.3%
Tasting Notes: Blending three old vine vineyards from different corners of the appellation gives this wine a depth an complexity not only from the soil and vines but also from the varied climates. The aromatics have a wide range that span from apricots and raw honey to nectarines and a minerality that makes you think of flint. The taste is dominated by stone fruit and white flowers which slowly drift into a creamy lemon curd. The sweetness of the fruit is balanced nicely by the acidity that is retained due to the cool climate of the vineyards.
About the Winery
Heintz Ranch has been family-owned since 1912. Our coastal vineyard is located in the cool climate of the Sonoma Coast/Russian River Valley/Green Valley growing region where the highly sought-after Heintz Ranch Grapes are grown and cared for by Charles Heintz himself. Heintz Ranch grapes are featured in many of California’s finest wines including Flowers, Williams-Selyem, Littorai, Peay Vineyards, Radio Coteau and our own Heintz & Dutch Bill Creek wines. Our grapes are field selected and masterfully created into small lots of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, truly hand-crafted from grower to winemaker.
Because our wines are produced in small lots, they receive the utmost care and attention, which is reflected in the taste, color and aroma of our wines. Between our two labels Heintz and Dutch Bill Creek, we bottle less than 1,000 cases. Our wines are the perfect choice for the wine lover who enjoys consistently outstanding and highly rated wines from a family-owned winery with small lot production.
Winemaker Hugh Chappelle
After a long friendship Hugh joined Charles Heintz Vineyard as Consulting Winemaker starting with the 2012 vintage. Hugh’s work with us includes overseeing both the Heintz and Dutch Bill Creek wines (two Chardonnay’s, two Pinot Noir’s, a Syrah and Rose of Pinot Noir). We are thrilled and honored to be working with Hugh, he shows great attention to detail that comes through beautifully in the finished wine product.
Earlier in his career, Hugh was winemaker for Madrona Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills, where he focused on Zinfandel, Rhône, Bordeaux and aromatic white varieties. He also did graduate studies in viticulture and enology at U.C. Davis and has a degree in chemistry from U.C. Santa Cruz.
Hugh served as winemaker at Lynmar Estate in the Russian River Valley, where his wines achieved widespread critical acclaim. Prior to joining Lynmar, he served as winemaker for the noted boutique winery Flowers Vineyard & Winery on the Sonoma Coast.