As a wine grower, the 2009 vintage was everything I could hope for from budbreak and harvest. The year unfolded as and when it should; all we had to do was keep up. A large storm passed through mid-October, but we managed to escape unscathed. As growers, our primary job is to read the vineyard and adjust our management approach based on current and forecasted conditions. The 2009 vintage seemed to say “It’s all under control” and required minimal intervention. The resulting fruit quality was superb with ideal flavors and aromas. Looking back it almost seems like it was easy.
Ideal ripening conditions in 2009 led to a very ripe initial harvest of our first blocks of Chardonnay. When we tested the fruit, we found the sugar levels were higher and the acid levels were a bit lower than usual for the lively style that we like in the Hudson Chardonnay. So we picked subsequent blocks a bit earlier than usual to create the ideal balance in the finished wine. We gently pressed the whole clusters for a short period of time, to keep as much natural acid as possible in the wine. This “vintage-tailored” refinement of our winemaking techniques made for a very focused and balanced wine in barrel. The wine fermented slowly in French oak barrels (90% new) with the wild yeasts finishing fermentation early in the new year and malolactic following soon after. This earlier development led to an earlier than usual bottling. As with previous vintages, we stirred the barrels twice a month for added flavor and to allow for extended aging with no added sulfur. The resulting wine has an unusually interesting balance of flavors, showing a great intensity of sunny fruit and floral flavors as well as bright natural acidity, minerality and a very long finish.
The 2009 Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay is a golden hued wine, with beautiful high-toned notes of lemon oil and tarragon. Medium to full bodied, this wine has a remarkably long finish that is framed by refreshing acidity and white stones. Expect bright flavors of harvest apples, toast and minerals on the tightened finish. For an ideal meal pairing, consider roasted lobster with coral oil and tarragon.