Girasole, which means sunflower in Italian, is Charlie Barra's second label established in 2001. All the fruit is estate grown and hand picked from the original 175 acre Redwood Valley Vineyard. The vineyards have been certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers for the past 20 years.
Bell beans, red clover, peas and vetch are planted between the rows of vines, and then, just when the flowering plants are turning to either seed or starting to bear “fruit”, the plants are turned back into the soil where they are converted to nutrients for the vines. The soils are alive with micro-organisms that allow the vines to take up the nutrients in a more efficient manner.
While California chardonnay is not usually our pace, the 2008 Girasole chardonnay has a lovely pale blond color with meyer lemon, vanilla and crème brule aromas. The palate is lively with additional lemon-lime and nectarine flavors. It has a smooth and creamy mouth feel, with a long balanced finish and good acidity. It sees no oak, so there is no over extracted buttery warmth here and we're okay with that.
Girasole Chardonnay 2008 $14 a bottle
