Ryan Patrick Naked Chardonnay 2021
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This is an approachable, savory, and refreshing style of Chardonnay. Malolactic fermentation, along with sur lie aging, allows for savory characters to develop, while tank fermentation maintains fresh acidity.
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2022-
Suckling
James
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Spectator
Wine
During his business career, Flanagan worked for a European company where he was exposed to European wines. A love for fine wines evolved into a desire to get involve in the industry. As the wine culture in California, and more recently Washington State, gained momentum, he felt the time was right. Flanagan returned to Eastern Washington full-time upon retirement in 1996. He implemented the first phase of his plan by selecting the ideal location for his family's future vineyard. "We wanted the best location we could find to assure the successful growth of top quality grapes. We also needed to minimize the risk of freeze damage while maintaining the capability to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes," explained Flanagan. Ryan Patrick Vineyards houses three distinctly separate estate vineyards, each divided into 20-acre parcels. The Bishop's Vineyard was planted in 1996 and is located on a peninsula on the banks of the Columbia River with vertical basalt cliffs rising several hundred feet immediately to the east. The Homestead Vineyard was planted next in 1998 on a portion of the original Flanagan family homestead. The newest vineyard, Vivian's Vineyard, is located near Trinidad on southern slopes overlooking the Columbia Gorge. Ryan Patrick Vineyards provide grapes for several well-known wineries as well as being the primary source for Ryan Patrick wines. Ryan Patrick Vineyards produce three wines, a White Bordeaux-style blend, Vin D' Été, a Chardonnay and a Red Bordeaux-style blend. The White Bordeaux-style blend, Vin D' Été, is made of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. Each wine reflects the terroir of individual vineyards and the meticulous attention paid to each individual plant. The Chardonnay is made from 100% estate grown grapes split evenly between Bishop's Vineyard and Homestead Vineyard. The Red Blend is a traditional Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. "From the beginning, our goal was to produce limited quantities of reserve quality wines," explains Flanagan. "Volume was never a priority." Ryan Patrick vintners select only the most promising grapes from which to produce their wines. This sentiment is carried throughout the entire winemaking process. Traditional winemaking principles are paired with only the finest fruit. The result is wines that are balanced, well integrated and fruit forward. They can be enjoyed immediately or cellared for additional depth and complexity. Ryan Patrick wines are the embodiment of a dream woven into years of dedication and hard work. Terry Flanagan initiated this "path" but is directly influenced by the support of his family. Vivian, his wife of over thirty years helps coordinate administrative aspects of the business while Flanagan's two sons- Ryan and Patrick, served as the inspiration for the company's name. Both sons work within the wine industry- one as an apprentice cellar master, the other as a Contract Administrator.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
An important winegrowing state increasingly recognized for its high-quality reds and whites, Washington ranks second in production in the U.S. after California. Washington wines continue to gain well-deserved popularity as they garner higher and higher praise from critics and consumers alike.
Washington winemakers draw inspiration mainly from Napa Valley, Bordeaux and the Rhône as well as increasingly from other regions like Spain and Italy. Most viticulture takes place on the eastern side of the state—an arid desert in the rain shadow of the Cascade mountains. Irrigation is made possible by the Columbia River. Temperatures are extreme, with hot and dry summers and cold winters, during which frost can be a risk.
Washington’s wine industry was initially built on Merlot, which remains an important variety to this day, despite having been overtaken in acreage planted by Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Bordeaux blends and Rhône blends are common as well as single varietal bottlings. Washington reds tend to express a real purity of concentrated fruit. The best examples have a bold richness, seamless texture, plush or powdery tannins and flavors such as licorice, herb, forest floor, espresso and dark chocolate.
In terms of white wine from Washington state, Riesling is the state’s major success story, producing crisp, aromatic examples with plenty of stone fruit that range from bone dry to lusciously sweet. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc perform nicely here as well, and Viognier is beginning to pick up steam.