This 2003 Roudon Smith Winery vintage is a fantastic and elegant Chardonnay pairing beautifully with shellfish, wild meats and cream sauced pastas.

The Anna Maria Estate Vineyard from which these grapes were grown is on a 900 elevation sloping hillside in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. The grapes harvested at this vineyard benefit from full sun throughout the day along with consistent temperatures and summer heat.

This Estate Chardonnay was created in the French style, utilizing well-aged oak barrels allowing just enough oak flavoring to infuse the wine. Because this Roudon Smith Chardonnay did not go through malolactic fermentation, there is very little, if any, buttery presence. Instead, this wine is perceived as elegant and full-bodied, with lots of flinty minerals and citrus fruits.

The grapes were harvested the 2nd week of September 2003 at 22 Brix, 3.35 pH and 0.74 TA.