Aged on lees for 18 months after whole-cluster fermentation/pressing, this white has notes of lemon curd and pear, with a crisp acid contour and pleasing minerality.
As the name ("fougue" translates as 'ardor') indicates, this is a wine with impact, with cherry florality on the nose and notes of stonefruit and lemon curd on the palate, and an almond-y finish. Like some passions, this one needs time: open a day in advance for its full expression.
A nose of honeycomb and white tea turns into crisply ripe melon on the palate. No oak and no malo make this a great summer patio drink, or a great pairing with rich, cream-of-etcetera soups.
Stirm's Chardonnay is grown at high elevations in the Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San Francisco. The wine is treated with a light touch of oak aging for a year and is bottled with a beautiful acidity.