“We truly aspire to the highest quality in all we do, and nothing is more important to these goals than what we do with our wine. Our winemaker, Corey Beck, is the magician presiding over the great Francis Ford Coppola wines in Sonoma County.” —Francis Ford Coppola
francis coppola diamond collection 2011 diamond pavilion The Francis Coppola Diamond Collection began in 1997 as an ambitious endeavor to make wines of character and complexity at an affordable price. Sourced from California vineyards that not only have proven track records but are also managed according to our rigorous standards, Diamond Collection wines are classic California expressions that offer fruit-forward, multi-dimensional flavor and immediate drinkability. Our illustrious lineup includes twelve single-varietal wines, plus our flagship proprietary blends. These wines are a true labor of love—we invite you to share them with us. Winemaker’s Notes For the past three vintages, Pavilion has been a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier. This vintage, we chose to create Pavilion primarily from Chardonnay grapes blended with just a tiny amount of Muscat because the Chardonnay we harvested this year was so exceptionally balanced and pure of character that we wanted to show it off. For those who are accustomed to enjoying our Diamond Collection Gold Label Chardonnay, this is a wonderful opportunity to compare the differences between these two wines. Santa Lucia Highlands, where Pavilion is grown, is a high-elevation sub-appellation of Monterey County. The vineyards rest on mountain hillsides 300–400 feet above sea level and are comprised of sandy loam soils. In addition to regular morning fog and afternoon breezes, the nighttime temperature in these vineyards can be as much as 30° lower than the daytime temperature. This creates a very slow, even ripening process and subsequently leads to extremely concentrated fruit with good dimension. Wines from this region tend to have more natural acidity than those from the slightly warmer Arroyo Seco vineyards where our Gold label Chardonnay is sourced. Our Pavilion Chardonnay underwent malolactic fermentation to heighten the rich, creamy texture of the wine, and was barrel aged. Our 2011 Pavilion has a floral nose, as well as exotic tropical fruit notes. Silky, rich, and fragrant, our Pavilion pairs beautifully with foods such as glazed spicy shrimp, chipotle fish tacos, and apricot chicken. Tasting Profile Appearance Bright gold Aromas Apricots, lychee, cloves, and blossoms Flavors Apples, pears, pineapple, and vanilla
Appellation Santa Lucia Highlands Blend 98% Chardonnay, 2% Muscat Alcohol 13.5% Total Acid .65g/100ml pH 3.52 Barrel Regimen 9 months in French oak Released September 2012 Suggested Retail $20.00
Corey Beck, Winemaker
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