Medium straw color; green apple, citrus, peach-pear, lemon, bread, oak, vanilla, butter, spice, nutmeg on the nose and palate.
Dry; only whisper of tannins, good acidity (3.39 pH); balanced. Light-medium body. Smooth, supple in the mouth. There is oak and malo, but well restrained and no heaviness. Very smooth. Good structure and finesse. 13.2% ABV
Balletto is one of the few Russian River wineries to be 100% estate grown and bottled. All vineyards are sustainably grown—the winery concentrates on cool climate chardonnay and pinot noir. Grapes hand-picked. Fermentation by native yeasts; 100% malolactic fermentation/conversion. Aged in French oak, 30% new, with stirring of the lees every three weeks for three months.
In 1977, when his father suffered an untimely death, 17-year-old John Balletto chose to forego his collegiate athletic career to help his mother, Hazel, on the family farm. With just $200 in the bank, a flatbed truck, and five acres of land, John set about making it work. Alongside his wife, Terri, John expanded the farm into the largest vegetable farm north of the Golden Gate Bridge. They grew more than 70 different vegetables on more than 700 acres. More than two million cases of mixed vegetables moved through the facility.
As water issues constrained production, John looked crops less dependent on water. Friend and neighbor Warren Dutton of Dutton Ranch encouraged John to plant his first vineyard in 1995. With El Niño issues and NAFTA, the vegetable business became more problematic. In 1999, John turned to grapes. He created Balletto Vineyards in 2001. Since then, Balletto Vineyards has grown to 22,000 cases a year, all using estate-grown fruit.
Balletto Vineyards Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County 2019 lands good balance between richness and excellent acidity, making it a quality food-pairing wine. The somewhat restrained alcohol also aids in that regard. Deft management of oak. Sustainably farmed from a premier region for Sonoma chardonnay. Pair with pork—grilled pork chops; seafood—cedar-plank salmon, grilled octopus; shellfish—crab, prawns; chicken in cream sauces; pasta in white sauce; pizza; light salads with chicken, ham, cheese, or fresh fruits; mac and cheese; movie theater popcorn. Cheese—cheddar, muenster, edam, brie, gouda, comté; sheep’s milk cheeses. $28-30
