2008 LIOCO CHARDONNAY CHARLES HEINTZ, SONOMA COAST, CALIFORNIA. 13.7% abv. Located at the junction of the Green Valley, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast AVAs. Planted in 1982 with Chardonnay Clone 4 in "goldridge" soil. Third generation farmer Charles Heintz. Whole cluster pressed. Cold fermented in stainless steel tanks (no oak) using a wild yeast. Malolactic fermentation and six months' contact with fine lees.
I had a problem with a dried out cork. I ended up pouring the wine in a narrow stream through the hollowed out center of the cork. Wine was a rather deep gold color--possibly oxidized? Thankfully, no. Rich apple flavor, nicely rounded, and drinking very well. Slightly puckery in a good way. Very pleasing on the palate. I also own Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay from Ceritas and Williams Selyem and a Late Harvest Heintz Chardonnay from Lioco.
2009 LIOCO CHARDONNAY CARNEROS, SONOMA COUNTY, CA. 13.4 abv. Grapes are from a site ten miles from San Pablo Bay to the southeast of Sonoma. A 1980's planting of Chardonnay Clone 4 in sandy loam transitioning to sandy clay subsoil tended by the Ricci family. Cork broke near the bottom of the cork but came out cleanly in two pieces. Light to medium gold color; not as dark as the Charles Heintz. More crisp and pungent in relation to the previous Chardonnay. Perhaps a bit unbalanced on the acidic side. Lemon and mineral notes. (Back label suggests crushed stone, lime rind and lemon-honey aromas,) I feel the Charles Heintz Vineyard wine is higher quality as you might expect from a single vineyard designation. This probably should have been opened by 2012. (corrected the vintage since I had mistakenly listed it as 2007, not 2009.)