AROMAS & FLAVORS
The 2017 Chardonnay boasts aromas of faint honeysuckle flower and toasted graham with accents of ripe pineapple. On the palate, this wine is balanced with outstanding varietal character that exudes flavors of lemon curd, toasted marshmallows, and hints of honeycomb that linger on the finish. With all the nuance of barrel fermented Chardonnay, this wine pops with bright acid that reflects its cool growing region.
VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING
This Chardonnay comes from a beautiful south facing hillside vineyard that climbs from 500 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The grapes were gently whole cluster pressed and transferred to juice tanks after harvest. Next, after a day of cold-settling, the juice was racked to neutral French and American oak barrels. It was then fermented using native yeast and bacteria for primary and secondary fermentation. With intention, no new oak was applied to the wine in order to highlight the fruit, terroir, and concrete vessel. After 17 months of aging sur lie in neutral French and American oak barrels, the wine was blended and bottled.
VINTAGE
The 2017 growing season started off bold with unseasonably early bud break. Overall the growing season temperatures were moderate to cool, rendering moderate and uniform berry set. As harvest approached, Mother Nature delivered extremely warm temperatures which cued the start of harvest on August 31. Harvest wrapped up October 16 resulting in moderate yields and full flavor development.
