Going Organic with Bonterra Chardonnay

Since 1993 Bonterra has been producing wine from 100% organic grapes. For those wondering what that means, they use certified organic practices, which include composting, cover crops and biodiversity.

All of their wines must pass Demeter Certification before it can carry the Biodynamic designation.  What is the Biodynamic designation? They have to be certified by Demeter and live up to the Biodynamic farm and processing standards.  The farm standards are a comprehensive organic farming method that requires the creation and management of a closed system minimally dependent on imported materials.

The Demeter Biodynamic processing standard fundamentally ensures an unbroken chain of accountability from the farm to the finished product.  The standards protect against manipulation of the Biodynamic agricultural ingredients as much as possible and allow for the integrity to define the product.

This Bontera 2011 Chardonnay was suppose to get to me in time for a winechat, but unfortunately UPS didn't receive the memo and the packaged arrived 2 days late.

The Chardonnay fruit in this wine comes from Mendocino and 54% we fermented in a combination of neutral French and American oak, 16% was in new oak and was allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation.  The remaining 30% was fermented in stainless steel.  This is was reserves the crisp fruit flavors you get in this wine.

The wine had aromas of melon, pineapple and hints of floral and honey. The palate showed green apple, citrus and lime.  It had a nice rounded mouth feel due to the malolactic fermentation and there was a slight bitter note on the finish.

This wine retails for $14.00

Disclaimer: I received this wine as a media sample from the winery.