2019 Iron Horse UnOaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Tasting Notes
Freshly cut, juicy apples shine brightly in this delicious wine, which manages to be both crisp and creamy, bright with acidity, and rich in texture. The 2019 vintage is balanced and lengthy. A beautiful expression of the Iron Horse estate in cool, foggy Green Valley.
The nose on this vintage has juicy red apple, lychee fruit, dried stone fruit, and hints of tropical fruit. Citrus notes on the front palate, with juicy apple following amazing acidity throughout the mouth and a touch of pear on the end with a sophisticated finish.
Artisanal Winemaking
All of our Chardonnay is handled one lot at a time. Only as the grapes arrive at the winery do we decide how to treat them. Sometimes it is straight to the press as whole clusters, while other times a cold soak might be necessary. All of the UnOaked Chardonnay had an overnight skin contact soaking before pressing to control acidity with a cold stainless steel fermentation (between 60f and 63f) to retain esters, i.e., brightness, minerality, and exotic fruit elements.
Precision Winegrowing
At Iron Horse āEstate Bottledā means that the winemaking begins in the vineyard. Our location in Green Valley represents the very best soil, climate, and aspects for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Our goal is to grow the best winegrapes what we call āprecision farming.ā All pruning, canopy management, irrigation, and cover crop decisions are determined on a block-by-block (and sometimes even vine-by-vine) basis, considering both the vintage at hand and the long-term needs of the land.
Specs
Appellation: Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Blend: 78% Hyde Old Wente Clone, 22% Rued Clone Chardonnay
Alcohol: 14%
Acidity: 5.7 g/L
Residual Sugar: <.2 g/L
pH: 3.31
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Barrels: None
Harvest Dates: September 11 ā26, 2019
Date Bottled: November 4, 2020
Total Production: 2280 Cases
Whatās Included
6-bottles:
6x 2019 Iron Horse UnOaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Case:
12x 2019 Iron Horse UnOaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Iron Horse is one of Sonoma Countyās most prestigious, small, independent, estate, family owned wineries located in cool, foggy Green Valley. Iron Horse Sparkling Wines have been served at the White House for five consecutive presidential administrations, beginning with the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meeting in Geneva on November 20, 1985, which led to the end of the Cold War. Wine & Spirits Magazine has named Iron Horse Sparkling Winery of the Year nine times. From the beginning, Robert Parker has said, āThese impressive Sparkling Winesā¦possess more texture and flavor than just about any sparkler I have tasted from California.ā
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2019 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay - $40 = 20.00%
What can I say, an excellent wine from an excellent winery. I have been there many times and definitely one of our favorites for pinot noir, chardonnay and of course sparkling.
Had this over two nights. It arrived on Wednesday and went nicely with grilled swordfish. Tonight it was perfect with shrimp scampi. Light and fresh, citrusy, tropical, crisp with nice acidity. A great choice to have with seafood or anything creamy but solid to drink on itās own. Obviously not oaky, or buttery. Fruity but not sweet. This is a chard for non chard drinkers (mostly because they are almost always oaked especially from CA.) Think more of a chablis than a white burgundy and you have an idea. Read the winery notes to see how well made this is. They really pay attention to detail and have been making great wines for a while now.
This is a steal even at 6 bottles. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
All you Chardonnay fans out there, Iāll split this case 2-3 ways. Getting in early to beat the rush.
Michigan is back on the list just in time for this.
No shipping to MO?!?! This rarely happens here, and Iāve ordered Iron Horse here several times in the past. @winedavid49 and @rjquillin, are we sure this is correct? I tried ordering 2 cases but was denied. Iām heartbroken
@Drez143 How much are you looking to get? Iāve already ordered a case, and could consider letting go of a few bottles, or if you wanted more and want to order a case, we could split that so you could get 6 at the case price. Iām fairly flexible when it comes to helping out another Casemate.
@ddeuddeg I ordered a case. Iām okay drinking the case to the face and then nose diving onto a table. More curious if anyone was local looking to need the nudge to enjoy a taste by splitting a case.
Thanks for the offer!
@jmdavidson1 Youāre half right: That was 50-50 2018 Heritage Chardonnay, and 2019 UnOaked (same as this offer). Quoting MarkdaSpark, āBoth are sublime.ā I agree. Good enough that I didnāt bother to check inventory before buying a case.
@jmdavidson1 I ordered those, and every bottle Iāve opened so far has been very bitter. I usually jump at Iron Horse Chardonnay offerings, but that experience has me hesitant.
One of my faves. Looks like I have 1 1/2 cases of 3 different Iron Horse Chardonnays now, including some of this- I may like the āUnoakedā the best. But, even in Vermont summer is on the way- in for another case!
/giphy cramped-sexy-drug
A lovely Iron Horse chard sounds just fabulous while Iām looking at the 8" of snow we got overnight! Thatās an April Foolās Day joke we didnāt need. Got a case heading my way.
Cheers!
@bahwm Just saw your Labrat report. You two are some of my favorites to read comments over the WineWoot!/Casemates years. Actually bookmarked the cheesecake recipes! Iām glad that I hit the buy a case button!
Cheers!
Cynthy
@cynthylee Glad itās melting! I hope we donāt get any more this year. We had tow MAJOR storms of 4-5 feet eachājust before Thanksgiving and just before Christmas! Weāve had 135 inchesāmostly from those two storms!
Earlier in the week I received the coveted email from Casemates telling me that I had been selected as an official Lab Rat and that wine was coming my way. I am always happy to be pressed into service for this! The 2019 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay arrived a few days later! Iām sorry that Iām posting this report more than 12 hours later than launch, but it has been a week or two or three rolled into one!
ddeuddweg went into total meal-planning mode and decided that we were going to have Coquilles St. Jacques for dinner with a side of snow peas. I always forget the difference between sugar snap and snow peas and grabbed the sugar snap peas instead . . . oops! No biggie. Weāll have the snow peas another day!
After helping prep dinner, I opened the bottle with great anticipation. Full disclosure: this is one of our favorite Chardonnays! We no longer drink the oak bombs. I really prefer to taste the true grape, which shows beautifully in the Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay! First, this is a beautifully clear, crisp looking wine. Very light in color. I got some apple and citrus on the nose. This wine is beautifully crisp on the palate and shows the great minerality of the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley! My actual first thought: āOooo, crisp and minerally! Yum!ā I found some hints of lemon and green apple and that beautiful minerality. Nice, well-balanced acidity.
This is a screaming deal! We are already in for a case! Get your fingers over there to click that magic button and buy some! You wonāt be disappointed! Thank you, Joy Sterling, and Iron Horse Vineyards, for providing us with such a beautiful wine, at a great price!
@jmdavidson1 Thanks. But, it was ddeuddegās idea! We have a really easy recipe that weāve used for years! Whisper me your email and Iāll send a copy. We have it digitally.
I love all wines from Iron Horse! Ordered a case although I donāt really need all 12. If anyone is in San Francisco and wants to split the case let me know. You can also just buy 3 bottles.
Opened my first bottle of this today. Iām no wine aficionado but very much enjoyed this. Fruity nose with a sweet refreshing taste. Started sipping while cooking and then finished the bottle over grilled sea bass, brussel sprouts, and jasmin rice.
2019 Iron Horse UnOaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Tasting Notes
Artisanal Winemaking
Precision Winegrowing
Specs
Whatās Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$384.00/Case for 12x 2019 Iron Horse UnOaked Chardonnay, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma at Iron Horse
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Apr 24 - Wednesday, Apr 26
2019 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay
6 bottles for $99.99 $16.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
@winedavid49
Still 3/31 here and ātrust **usā doesnāt work.
Iāll protest.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2019 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay - $40 = 20.00%
Itās always nice to get an email telling you that youāve been selected as a labrat. Even nicer when itās a bottle of Iron Horse Unoaked Chardonnay, and thereās time to make meal plans that will work.
This time the choice was Coquilles St. Jacques, a scrumptious mĆ©lange of bay scallops, mushrooms, some chopped onion and garlic. An easy supper to do at home, but we havenāt had it for quite a while. It turned out to be a perfect choice with just some steamed sugar snap peas on the side.
We chilled the bottle, pulled the cork, and poured a sample, making sure to have a taste and see what the wine has to offer before tasting the food. In the glass we see a beautiful pale straw color. On the nose thereās just a faint hint of citrus, which becomes more pronounced as the wine warms up a bit. On the palate, more citrus, but also a lot of the crisp acidity and minerality weāve come to love in unoaked Chardonnay in general, but especially in what comes from Iron Horse. This is just the best example Iāve ever encountered. With the meal, it was a match made in heaven.
Full disclosure: Iām a wine club member, so I get a discount from the retail price that shows on their website. The price for this offer blows that right out of the water. Iāll definitely be in for a case before it sells out.
What can I say, an excellent wine from an excellent winery. I have been there many times and definitely one of our favorites for pinot noir, chardonnay and of course sparkling.
Had this over two nights. It arrived on Wednesday and went nicely with grilled swordfish. Tonight it was perfect with shrimp scampi. Light and fresh, citrusy, tropical, crisp with nice acidity. A great choice to have with seafood or anything creamy but solid to drink on itās own. Obviously not oaky, or buttery. Fruity but not sweet. This is a chard for non chard drinkers (mostly because they are almost always oaked especially from CA.) Think more of a chablis than a white burgundy and you have an idea. Read the winery notes to see how well made this is. They really pay attention to detail and have been making great wines for a while now.
This is a steal even at 6 bottles. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
The only question left for meā¦one case or two??
@TimW Two!
All you Chardonnay fans out there, Iāll split this case 2-3 ways. Getting in early to beat the rush.
Michigan is back on the list just in time for this.
@kitkat34 Are you in metro Detroit? Iāll take 4 bottles.
@kerby915 Ok, Iām not too far from Metro and often split with Livonia and Dearborn Heights āmates
@kerby915 Iāll put you down for 4
@kerby915 @kitkat34
Can I get in on this split? Iād be happy with 2-3 bottles.
@kerby915 wine is here, I messaged you earlier.
No shipping to MO?!?! This rarely happens here, and Iāve ordered Iron Horse here several times in the past. @winedavid49 and @rjquillin, are we sure this is correct? I tried ordering 2 cases but was denied. Iām heartbroken
@TimW Itās rare for an offer to not ship to MO, especially when it does ship to IL.
/giphy oily-frivolous-waffle
/giphy appetizing-knightly-salamander
Does anyone want to split in Buffalo, NY?
@Drez143 How much are you looking to get? Iāve already ordered a case, and could consider letting go of a few bottles, or if you wanted more and want to order a case, we could split that so you could get 6 at the case price. Iām fairly flexible when it comes to helping out another Casemate.
@ddeuddeg I ordered a case. Iām okay drinking the case to the face and then nose diving onto a table. More curious if anyone was local looking to need the nudge to enjoy a taste by splitting a case.
Thanks for the offer!
@Drez143 Buying a case of the current PN offer. Let me know if you want a pair at the case price.
/giphy loathsome-punctual-locket
This looks like the same as one offered here on October 1. Bought then, but do I now? Better check inventory.
@jmdavidson1 Having the same issue, but with a 'tso purchase but at $17/btl.
@ddeuddeg @ilCesare what do you think the cellar life of this will be?
@jmdavidson1 Youāre half right: That was 50-50 2018 Heritage Chardonnay, and 2019 UnOaked (same as this offer). Quoting MarkdaSpark, āBoth are sublime.ā I agree. Good enough that I didnāt bother to check inventory before buying a case.
@jmdavidson1 Awww, just do it! Hit that Buy Button!
@jmdavidson1 I ordered those, and every bottle Iāve opened so far has been very bitter. I usually jump at Iron Horse Chardonnay offerings, but that experience has me hesitant.
One of my faves. Looks like I have 1 1/2 cases of 3 different Iron Horse Chardonnays now, including some of this- I may like the āUnoakedā the best. But, even in Vermont summer is on the way- in for another case!
/giphy cramped-sexy-drug
@drgonzo99
/giphy whoever-dreamed-this-up-was-on-drugs?
No kitties were harmed in the making of that dance?
/giphy finished-outlandish-hair
A lovely Iron Horse chard sounds just fabulous while Iām looking at the 8" of snow we got overnight! Thatās an April Foolās Day joke we didnāt need. Got a case heading my way.
Cheers!
@cynthylee Where are you?
@bahwm Brooklyn Center MN. But the sunshine is melting the stuff fast! Just hope this is the last of the snow for this year!
@bahwm Just saw your Labrat report. You two are some of my favorites to read comments over the WineWoot!/Casemates years. Actually bookmarked the cheesecake recipes! Iām glad that I hit the buy a case button!
Cheers!
Cynthy
@cynthylee Glad itās melting! I hope we donāt get any more this year. We had tow MAJOR storms of 4-5 feet eachājust before Thanksgiving and just before Christmas! Weāve had 135 inchesāmostly from those two storms!
@bahwm @cynthylee Spring has sprung dang-it
@cynthylee **two
And, thank you for your kind comments.
@cynthylee @kitkat34 KitKat, please send some our way!
Where are you?
SF/Marin split?
Autobuy, 2 cases. Always.
Earlier in the week I received the coveted email from Casemates telling me that I had been selected as an official Lab Rat and that wine was coming my way. I am always happy to be pressed into service for this! The 2019 Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay arrived a few days later! Iām sorry that Iām posting this report more than 12 hours later than launch, but it has been a week or two or three rolled into one!
ddeuddweg went into total meal-planning mode and decided that we were going to have Coquilles St. Jacques for dinner with a side of snow peas. I always forget the difference between sugar snap and snow peas and grabbed the sugar snap peas instead . . . oops! No biggie. Weāll have the snow peas another day!
After helping prep dinner, I opened the bottle with great anticipation. Full disclosure: this is one of our favorite Chardonnays! We no longer drink the oak bombs. I really prefer to taste the true grape, which shows beautifully in the Iron Horse Vineyards UnOaked Chardonnay! First, this is a beautifully clear, crisp looking wine. Very light in color. I got some apple and citrus on the nose. This wine is beautifully crisp on the palate and shows the great minerality of the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley! My actual first thought: āOooo, crisp and minerally! Yum!ā I found some hints of lemon and green apple and that beautiful minerality. Nice, well-balanced acidity.
This is a screaming deal! We are already in for a case! Get your fingers over there to click that magic button and buy some! You wonāt be disappointed! Thank you, Joy Sterling, and Iron Horse Vineyards, for providing us with such a beautiful wine, at a great price!
@bahwm I always forget which is which between snow and sugar snap peas, too, at least by name! I know which ones I like by sight, though.
@bahwm brava for the dinner choice. A favorite of mine, but quite a bit of work.
@TimW I like them both though!
I topped these with a bit of Orange EVOO and freshly ground pepper.
@jmdavidson1 Thanks. But, it was ddeuddegās idea!
We have a really easy recipe that weāve used for years! Whisper me your email and Iāll send a copy. We have it digitally.
/giphy kissable-gleaming-warrior
Oh dammit. I do not have room for this, but I canāt resist an iron horse unoaked. In for the case.
Costco suckered me in to buying some 2019 Brodeaux so now I have to skip this.
Just bought a case in NW Columbus OH if any neighbors interested in 4 or 6 splitā¦
On our first retirement vacation but luckily was checking email. Definitely in for the Iron Horse!
/giphy tepid-scrawny-room
Damn! Iāve been closed out here for a month and I just canāt help it. My SO is going to kill me. In for a case.
Well, assuming the $13 and change for Iron Horse Chard is not an April Foolās joke, I got two cases - Thanks Joy! and WineDavid.
/giphy infamous-agile-ladybug
I can resist anything except temptation.
/giphy eerie-bejeweled-plant
@rpstrong I bought a case last time. Gone now, but do I recall it having a note of pineapple?
/giphy passionate-bubbly-fiend
I love all wines from Iron Horse! Ordered a case although I donāt really need all 12. If anyone is in San Francisco and wants to split the case let me know. You can also just buy 3 bottles.
@winecatlady Iād like to split it with you.
Ooo Iron Horse! Solid deal. In at the buzzer for this one. Looking forward to seafood and summer warmth!
Awesome. Thank Iām at [redacted for privacy] (NOPA)
PM me if you need an address.
POPSOCKETS! SPROCKETS! DAVY CROCKETT! AWESOME!
Opened my first bottle of this today. Iām no wine aficionado but very much enjoyed this. Fruity nose with a sweet refreshing taste. Started sipping while cooking and then finished the bottle over grilled sea bass, brussel sprouts, and jasmin rice.