Antinori Cervaro Della Sala Chardonnay 6 / Case

Blend 85% chardonnay 15% grechetto climate a cold winter with little rainfall was followed by a mild spring with temperatures above seasonal averages. From june on warm and rainless weather led to an accelerated ripening of the grapes particularly such early-maturing varieties as chardonnay. End of season rains gave some relief to later-ripening grapes such as grechetto and allowed this part of the crop to ripen while maintaining good levels of freshness and aromatic fragrance. Intelligent on the spot observation of the grapes and timely careful picking which began during the middle of august guaranteed a harvest of fresh and healthy grapes and a wine with an excellent balance of acidity and alcohol. Vinification the chardonnay and the grechetto were fermented separately; the chardonnay must macerated on its skins for four to six hours at temperatures around 50° fahrenheit (10° centigrade) and then went into 60 gallon french oak barrels where fermentation lasted ap