PANTHERA RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY

Boldness doesn’t always have to roar. The power of these wines comes from the adept control and balance of fruit, acid, oak and time. Panthera wines are inspired by the subtleties in strength—captured through the bright acidity created by the cool climate in the Sonoma Coast and coaxed into powerful flavors by the winemaker at the blending table.

TASTE WITH THE WINEMAKER

“Panthera Chardonnay showcases the dynamism and energy of the Russian River Valley as this wine displays both a vibrant aspect of fruit and a confident oak profile. This wine presents beautiful layers of crisp, bright Asian pear and golden apple that lead to luscious notes of lemon curd developed from malolactic fermentation. The deft baseline of toasted oak introduces notes of buttered French toast and hints of crème brûlée, which are complemented by a signature backbone of acidity nurtured on the Sonoma Coast.”

– Stephanie Pope, Winemaker

VINTAGE NOTES

Every vintage and harvest presents a unique set of challenges and obstacles. Vintage 2018 began on schedule at the end of February, and spring brought moderate temperatures that progressed into a warm summer. Steady growing conditions continued into the fall with harvest starting slightly later than normal, and in some areas, extending long into the first week of November. After lengthy hang time, the fruit was picked at its peak, promising exceptional flavor in bottle.

TECHNOLOGY AND WINEMAKING

Our Lions Head Cellar houses some of the most progressive winemaking technology allowing our winemakers to craft wines of exceptional quality that showcase the distinctive lands they come from. The winemakers leverage tools like our optical sorter, which ensures only the highest quality berries are delivered to the fermentation tanks; and cutting-edge tanks, which facilitate 24/7 monitoring of pumpovers and micro-adjustments to be made throughout the winemaking process.