Arista Winery
Chardonnay, El Diablo Vineyard Russian River Valley
This site is located on a ridge off of Eastside Road that serves as the eastern edge of the Russian River Valley Appellation and was planted by the legendary Ulises Valdez in 2008. The site’s location allows for morning fog and afternoon sun, enabling ideal vine conditions. Arista's blocks are planted to the Montrachet and Old Wente selections of Chardonnay and are grafted to rootstock 420a, planted tightly to encourage competition for nutrients. The result is low-yielding, vines that produce intense, falvor-packed clusters.
Ulises Valdez established El Diablo Vineyard in 2008 on the eastern edge of the Russian River Valley Appellation. Each morning the vineyard is shrouded in fog, by early afternoon the marine layer burns off and the vines are able to soak in several hours of warm sunlight. Careful thought was put into both rootstock and clonal selection for the vineyard. Arista's blocks of Chardonnay are planted to Old Wente and Montrachet Selections that give way to a wine of distinction. Row spacing is tight at 4×6 which helps to further reduce vigor and encourage competition for nutrients. The result is low yielding vines that produce intense, flavor packed clusters yielding a wine that is thoughtful and ageworthy with each vintage.
- Region
- California: Russian River Valley
- Appellation
- Russian River Valley
- Varietal Composition
- Chardonnay
- Aging
- 100% Chardonnay, the wine undergoes 12 months of fermentation and aging in barrels, followed by 4-6 months in stainless steel, and it is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
- Alcohol
- 14.4%
Green apple, lemon oil, and white peach notes emerge on the nose. Lemon-lime flavors are enhanced by notes of white pepper and a beam of bright acidity on the palate.
Wine Advocate
95 Points
2021
"The 2021 Chardonnay UV - El Diablo Vineyard, from vines planted by Ulises Valdez in powdery Goldridge soils, is an incredible Chardonnay that combines shimmery energy with depth and opulence. Peach and quince fruit are accented by nuances of Greek yogurt, beeswax, panna cotta and flaky pastry aromas on the nose. The palate is satiny and expansive, radiating layers of peachy fruit and honey through the mouth. Its natural richness is structured by a focused spine of acidity, and it has a tremendously long finish."
— Erin Brooks, 2024
