Iconic wineries
Noteworthy Wines & Artisan Vintners
Landmark Vineyards
Sonoma
A grape is a very fine agricultural product that requires great care. The hands that touch grapes must develop a tradition of agricultural excellence. Landmark Vineyards grew out of a long history of agricultural excellence. Since the mid-1800s, the name John Deere with the iconic green tractor has been the image of farming quality. And through this legacy, John Deere’s descendants progress the family association through Landmark Vineyards. But the theme of merit does not end in the fields; rather, Landmark takes on the gargantuan task of enhancing the joy of daily living. And for this, wine country has undeniably taken notice. Founded in 1974, Landmark Vineyards is a product of Damaris Deere Ford, John Deere’s great-greatgranddaughter. She founded the winery in Windsor but soon uprooted the winery for bucolic setting in the heart of Sonoma Valley. Above: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Facing Page: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
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Michael and Mary equate Sonoma County to heaven. One of the world’s best winemaking spots, the Colhouns seek a distinctive style statement, through which their ultra premium wines are allowed to exemplify the terroir of Landmark’s incredible geography.
Landmark’s winemaker, Eric Stern, pushes the Landmark principle of simply leaving wines alone, allowing the natural state to develop the flavor profile. Eric utilizes senses and aesthetics to generate balanced, fullflavored chardonnays and pinot noirs in the traditional Burgundian style. This is the art of winemaking at its finest. World-renowned enologist Helen Turley laid the foundation for Landmark’s winemaking; the 1993 chardonnay, in fact, was the springboard of Landmark as an unstoppable winemaking force.
The continual effort to perfect the winemaking craft fills Landmark’s fine wines with great energy, and the wonderful style that has resulted is a testament to the winery’s interpretationof vintages. The winery sits right in the middle of the vineyards, and the good stewardship is evident on visit. With a guest cottage and tours on a horse-drawn wagon, the facility is geared toward that iconic, winecountry hospitality. Through the winery, Landmarkcan fulfill its statement that begins with the critically acclaimed wines— Landmark wines have landed on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 multiple times over the last decade—but that extends well beyond. Above: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Facing Page: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Landmark Overlook Chardonnay
Landmark Grand Detour Pinot Noir
gourmet pairings
gourmet pairings
This well-structured wine will
This elegant and well-
pair well with seafood entrees,
balanced wine will be a
roasted poultry dishes and
good accompaniment to
even spicy Asian cuisine.
lamb, salmon and mushroom accented dishes.
tasting notes
tasting notes
The wine exhibits a golden honey hue with pure Granny Smith
The wine exhibits a deep garnet color and aromas of
apple aromas along with distinctive notes of lime blossom and
gingerbread spice and blood orange are underpinned by forest
nutmeg. The mouth feel is rich and round and unfolds to reveal
floor and earthy cherry. On the palate hints of mushroom and
shortbread and pineapple flavors that linger.
plum unfold. Supple ripe tannins and balancing acidity give the wine a long lasting finish.
winemaker’s insight
The 2009 growing season was an ideal growing season for
winemaker’s insight
Chardonnay. A long cool dry Spring was followed by a temperate
The 2009 growing season was ideal growing season for Pinot
summer. A warm, but not hot September brought the grapes
Noir. A long cool dry Spring was followed by a temperate
to maturity with moderate sugar levels. Eighteen of the finest
summer. A warm, but not hot September brought the grapes to
Chardonnay Vineyards in Sonoma County including Charlie
maturity with moderate sugar levels. The Sonoma Coast is one of
Heintz’s vineyard in the Sonoma Coast and The Sangiacomo
California’s best regions for the production of Pinot Noir. While
Family’s Green Acres Hill Vineyard in Carneros comprise the
the traditional plantings of Pinot tended to be concentrated in
2009 Overlook Chardonnay. Harvest began the second week
the Carneros and Russian River, today’s focus has been in the
of September with Bald Mountain vineyard perched at 1,800
cooler Sonoma Coast appellation, where newer clonal material
ft. in the Mayacamas Range. The majority of our chardonnay
and denser spacing has led to a renaissance for this varietal in
was harvested in the last week of September and the first week
Sonoma County. The pinot noir is hand-harvest in the vineyard,
of October. Each lot is lightly whole cluster pressed, allowed
then sorted multiple times before a five day cold soak in open
to settle for a day and placed into 100% French oak where it
top fermentors. This extended cold soak enhances the color
spontaneously ferments without the addition of cultured yeast.
and flavors in the wine without imparting bitter flavors thanks to
The barrels are stirred twice a month to round out the wine and
the absence of alcohol. We also practice a partial whole cluster
build texture.
fermentation leaving about 15-20%of the clusters intact which imparts a complex structure and spicy notes to the wine.
TECHNICAL data appellation: Sonoma County
TECHNICAL data
composition: 100% Chardonnay
appellation: Sonoma County
maturation: 10 months in French oak barrels
composition: 100% Pinot Noir
cellaring: Cellar for one to five years
maturation: 18 months in French oak barrels
website: www.landmarkwine.com
cellaring: Cellar for one to five years website: www.landmarkwine.com
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