1995 Arrowood Chardonnay Reserve Speciale Cuvee Michel Berthoud

Arrowood Vineyards and Winery was founded in Sonoma, California, in 1986 by Richard and Alis Arrowood. Richard was the original winemaker at Chateau St. Jean and while there produced some of the state’s first single-vineyard wines. Arrowood’s first vintage under his own label was 1987, and in 1990 Richard left Chateau St. Jean to devote himself full time to Arrowood. Since then the 20-acre estate, half of which is in Sonoma Valley and half in the Russian River Valley, has been acquired first by Robert Mondavi then by the wine and spirits conglomerate Constellation. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that despite the change in ownership “things have changed little, which is good news for wine consumers, as this has long been a noteworthy source for beautiful white and red wines. Arrowood has no weak spots in its portfolio.”

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.

Arrowood Estate Wines vintages 1987 to 2010 were made by Richard Arrowood, a legendary and award-winning winemaker. Some were also made with the help of Michel Berthoud, who Richard Arrowood hired to assist him starting in 1989. San Francisco native raised in Santa Rosa, Arrowood earned degrees in organic chemistry and enology before embarking on a remarkable career that included posts at Korbel Champagne Cellars, Rodney Strong, Sonoma Vineyards, and Chateau St. Jean. At Chateau St. Jean he pioneered the production of single vineyard Chardonnays, making the first ones in Sonoma County. He and his wife Alis founded Arrowood Wines, which was later purchased by a series of corporations. Today the couple owns Amapola Creek winery in Sonoma County where Arrowood recently celebrated 50 years as a winemaker. In the late 1990s, Robert M. Parker Jr. wrote that Richard Arrowood is “unquestionably a reference point for world-class wine.” In 2015 Wine Spectator wrote that “the list of star winemakers in Sonoma is fairly short and no one has a longer and more impressive record than Richard Arrowood.”