Introducing 2011 Treleaven Vintner’s Cuvée Chardonnay
A new Treleaven Vintner’s Cuvée Chardonnay was released Saturday December 29th. King Ferry Winery was founded on chardonnay and we remain the only winery in the Finger Lakes that regularly produces three different chardonnays. The new Vintner’s Cuvée will make four. We have not produced a Vitner’s Cuvée Chardonnay since 2001 because it is reserved for the best years! Pete Saltonstall (owner) and Lindsey Stevens (winemaker) taste each barrel of aged wine before determining which barrels suit which finished product. Six of the barrels were of superior quality. The wine was above and beyond expectation and was reserved for this special wine.
King Ferry Winery is the oldest winery on the east side of Cayuga Lake. It is co-owned by Peter and Tacie Saltonstall. Their passion for Chardonnay was sparked in Burgundy, France where they toured several wineries and vineyards in the early 80s. There they received an in depth education of the intricacies of chardonnay production from the grapes to the varying flavors of oak grown in different regions. Upon returning to the US the Saltonstalls planted Riesling and chardonnay first. Pete was mentored by Eric Fry, winemaker at Lenz Winery in Long Island, who shared his passion for the burgundian style. At the time, he was winemaker at Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars. The new Vintner’s Cuvée showcases how Pete successfully adapted his knowledge of the chardonnays of Burgundy to produce award winning chardonnays in the Finger Lakes consistently for decades.
The 2011 Vintner's Cuvée Chardonnay is made up of equal portions of three separate lots of wine. The fruit was picked on four separate days, 9/22/11 and 9/23/11 from King Ferry Vineyard's Old Vineyard, 9/30/11 Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellar's Vineyard Wagner Farms, and 10/1/11 Atwater Estate Vineyard. The wine was fermented and aged in 50% Hungarian oak, 33% French oak, and 17% American oak new barrels. Very little manipulation was needed to finish this wine. During final barrel tasting before blending decisions were made these 6 barrels of wine stood out amongst the others as outstanding with the most depth in character and completeness. They set themselves apart as the very best in the barrel fermented Chardonnay wine we have to offer. The wine was aged for 8 months in oak barrels then the wine was racked out to stainless steel tanks for cold stabilization and filtration in preparation for bottling. This wine was sterile filtered and bottled on 8/20/12 in ECO glass and 145 cases produced.
The tasting room descriptor reads: “Introducing our once in a great vintage Chardonnay!
A traditional Burgundian style oaked Chardonnay. Aromas of crisp green apple and honeydew melon give way to delicious notes of toasted caramel and crème brulee.” Winner of American Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition Silver Medal.
Treleaven’s Vintner’s Cuvée Chardonnay is a distinguished wine that demonstrates the depth of character and complexity of the world’s number one grape varietal.