In early April of 2013 I took a trip back into the guts of Sonoma on a mission to blend a couple barrels of Chardonnay…delicious Chardonnay. As Kitten Swish is a négociant company purchasing and blending barrels, I saw no better grape for this than Chardonnay. I worked with a warehouse of barrels (variety is the spice, as they say), tasting through different lots of various woods, toasting levels, coopers and age. I looked for subtle differences that would add layers of aroma and balanced structures, an individual bottling distinct in its nature. I believe the resulting blend will give the nostrils firm whiffs of goodness and the tonsils a little squeeze; it will nibble at the tongue like a school of small tasty fish. In this bottle you will find Kitten Swish.
The Stuhlmuller vineyard lies at the southwestern tip of Alexander Valley. The soils are a combination of volcanic, gravel and clay. There are two clones used here, Wente clone originating in the famous Gauer Upper Barn vineyard, a well-known source for intense Chardonnay, and clone 4. This blend is comprised of three different barrels; 60% six year old neutral barrel, 20% 2 year old Acacia and 20% new medium toast Cadus. The wine has a natural yeast alcoholic fermentation, 60% natural malolactic fermentation and 7 months sur lie before being blended into neutral barrels. 50 cases were produced.
The name “Stitch” is a tribute to a gash that was left on my importer’s head, the wonderful Mark Kuspira, after an exciting ATV ride up a hill on the Stuhlmuller property…A tribute was the least I could do.
2012 Kitten Swish Chardonnay Stitch, Alexander Valley, California
Very fresh with ripe, clean, pure pear and white peach fruit as well as some toasty hints on the nose. The palate is delicately phrased with ripe pear and white peach fruit and subtle pithy notes. Bright and fruit driven with nice texture and weight. Real finesse. 93/100
Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak July 13th, 2014.