2006 Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve

Sonoma, California

Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve is a special white wine gem from Sonoma that brings back fond memories of many pleasurable visits to the winery. Its setting is splendid, its wines seducing and its bocce court relaxing after a long day of wine tasting in Sonoma! Damaris Deere Ford, great-great-granddaughter of John Deere, relocated Landmark Vineyards from Windsor to a spectacular piece of land at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain in the Sonoma Valley. Damaris believed that Landmark could be a small jewel of a winery and built a Spanish mission style winery equipped with state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. Damaris convinced her son, Michael Deere Colhoun, and his wife Mary to move from the east coast and join her as partners in the winery. In 1993, they hired world-renowned consulting enologist Helen Turley to work with winemaker Eric Stern. This collaboration has led to some excellent winemaking. This 2006 vintage of Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve received ratings of 90 from Parker, 92 from Tanzer and 93 from Wine Spectator.

Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve is straw yellow in color, with a nose of lime, nutmeg, green apples and vanilla. The grapes are 79% Sangiacomo Vineyards, Carneros, and 21% Frostwatch Vineyard, Bennett Valley, giving the wine a Sonoma appellation. The wine was barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts, completed malolactic fermentation and spent 12 months sur lie. Full-bodied with balanced acidity, it is a velvety Chardonnay with flavors of pineapple, tangerine, lemon custard, honey and butterscotch. It is rich and creamy on the long finish.

Enjoy Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve over the next 4-5 years with grilled swordfish, roast chicken, veal and grilled vegetables.