{"product_id":"balletto-russian-river-chardonnay-2019","title":"Balletto Russian River Chardonnay","description":"\u003cp class=\"mb-6\"\u003eBalletto Russian River Chardonnay stands out as a masterclass in restrained elegance, crafted by a family-owned vineyard that sources from their own 600 acres in Sonoma County but reserves only the top 10% of grapes for their own label. This wine prioritizes balance and sophistication through lower alcohol levels, bright natural acidity, and measured oak influence—delivering a medium-bodied expression with vibrant citrus and stone fruit notes complemented by a creamy texture, rather than the heavy butter and vanilla typical of many California Chardonnays. Consistently earning gold medals and 90+ point ratings from prestigious competitions, it offers compelling quality-to-value, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a refined, food-friendly Chardonnay that showcases what restrained winemaking can achieve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n      \u003cp class=\"mb-4\"\u003eBalletto Russian River Chardonnay hails from estate vineyards in the cool-climate Russian River Valley, where morning fog from the Pacific moderates temperatures for slow ripening and vibrant acidity. Sourced from multiple sites like rolling hills and steep slopes, the Chardonnay grapes—often old Wente clones—are gently whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeasts, followed by 18 months of barrel aging with subtle new oak integration. This patient process yields a light-straw colored wine that's complex, elegant, and balanced with concentrated flavors and a lush, lasting texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-4\"\u003eWarm spices mingle with ripe pear, lemon, and subtle toasted vanilla from sparing new oak, creating an ever-changing bouquet of savory aromatics, bright citrus, melon, and green apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-4\"\u003eElegant and layered on the palate, it delivers concentrated citrus brightness, stone fruit, and creamy textures, with lively acidity, gentle tannins, and a poised balance that invites another sip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-4\"\u003eTart yet creamy, the long finish lingers for minutes with stone fruit, creme brulee, and fine tannins accentuating the lush depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-4\"\u003eThis Chardonnay captures the Russian River Valley's foggy essence, blending graceful complexity with pure varietal character—distinctly Chardonnay without oak overpowering the fruit. Its cool-climate heritage shines through in vibrant acidity, nuanced savory tones, and a textured finesse that earned it 89 points and a Silver Medal, setting it apart as a structured yet approachable expression of terroir.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-4\"\u003eServe chilled at 45-50°F in a white wine glass to highlight its aromas, pairing beautifully with seafood, poultry, or creamy cheeses to complement its citrus brightness and lush texture. Decant younger vintages like the 2021 for added brilliance, and savor its inviting profile alongside roasted chicken or grilled salmon for an elevated everyday indulgence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \n      \u003cdiv class=\"mt-12\"\u003e\n        \u003ch2 class=\"mb-8\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n        \u003cdiv\u003e\n          \u003ch4 class=\"font-semibold\"\u003eWhat is Balletto Russian River Chardonnay?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n          \u003cp\u003e  \nBalletto Russian River Chardonnay is an estate\ngrown white wine from Balletto Vineyards in California's Russian River Valley, blending grapes from multiple cool\nclimate estate sites to create a complex, elegant expression of the region's terroir.\n\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n          \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n        \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n          \u003ch4 class=\"font-semibold\"\u003eWhat are the key specs of Balletto Russian River Chardonnay?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n          \u003cp\u003e  \nIt features a light\nstraw to medium gold color, aromas of citrus, pear, lemon, green apple, and subtle oak notes like vanilla; on the palate, it offers bright acidity, creamy texture, slight tannins, and finishes with stone fruit and spice. Alcohol is typically 13.1\n13.5%, with balanced pH around 3.35 and aging in mostly used French oak for 10\n18 months.\n\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n          \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n        \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n          \u003ch4 class=\"font-semibold\"\u003eHow do you enjoy Balletto Russian River Chardonnay?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n          \u003cp\u003e  \nServe it chilled at 45\n55°F in a white wine glass to highlight its vibrant aromas and flavors; it pairs well with seafood, poultry, creamy cheeses, or light pasta, and its lively acidity makes it refreshing on its own.\n\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n          \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n        \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n          \u003ch4 class=\"font-semibold\"\u003eWhat makes Balletto Russian River Chardonnay special?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n          \u003cp\u003e  \nIts cool\nclimate Russian River Valley origin delivers graceful complexity with concentrated fruit, minerality, and finesse from sustainable estate vineyards, native yeast fermentation, and subtle new oak that enhances rather than dominates the pure Chardonnay character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n          \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n        \u003c\/div\u003e\n      \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"M. S. Walker","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48103481409784,"sku":"80115","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0352\/3140\/0072\/files\/balletto-russian-river-chardonnay__28446.1754742241.1280.1280__17983.jpg?v=1773511837","url":"https:\/\/thebourboncentral.com\/products\/balletto-russian-river-chardonnay-2019","provider":"Bourbon Central","version":"1.0","type":"link"}