Hess® Panthera Chardonnay Russian River Valley – 8000939851925

BORN BOLD The Lions Head Luxury Collection demonstrates boldness where you least expect it. The power of these wines comes from the adept control and balance of fruit, acid, oak and time. Panthera wines are inspired by the subtleties in strength—captured through the bright acidity created by the cool climate of the Sonoma Coast and coaxed into powerful flavors by the winemaker at the blending table. FROM THE CELLAR “Panthera Chardonnay showcases the dynamism and energy of the Russian River Valley as this wine displays both a vibrant aspect of fruit and a confident oak profile. This wine presents beautiful layers of stone fruit married with bright Asian pear, which lead to luscious notes of lemon curd developed from malolactic fermentation. The deft baseline of toasted oak introduces notes of buttered French toast and hints of crème brûlée, which are complemented by a signature backbone of acidity nurtured on the Sonoma Coast.” – Stephanie Pope, Winemaker TECHNOLOGY AND WINEMAKING Our Lions Head Cellar houses some of the most progressive winemaking technology allowing our winemakers to craft wines of exceptional quality that showcase the distinctive lands they come from. The winemakers leverage tools like our optical sorter and cutting edge tanks; these ensure only the highest quality berries are delivered to the cellar. They facilitate 24/7 monitoring of pump-overs and micro-adjustments made to each small-lot fermentation tank throughout the winemaking process. RESILIENCE IN THE VINEYARD Every vintage and harvest presents a unique set of obstacles; however, vintage 2021 was a welcome change of pace. The season consisted of ideal grape growing conditions and was pleasantly uneventful— free of fires, earthquakes, and landslides. Spring brought cool weather, leading to a slow and gradual maturation of the vines, until the Summer heat arrived and carried us into a warm, quick harvest. Remnants of the previous year’s drought conditions remained a factor, creating lighter yields and intense flavor profiles. Vintage 2021 is one of outstanding quality and balance.