Nose
Aromas of lemon, yellow apple skin, pineapple and pie crust.
Palate
The palate is full with ripe lemon and grilled pineapple gaining nutty, toasted oak and buttery notes toward the mid-palate. The finish is crisp and textured with sustained fruit layered with savory toasted oak and subtle buttery richness. Rich and full on entry, the 2015 Sangiacomo Chardonnay develops complexity as the palate progresses, finishing cleanly with hints of ripe citrus and spice.
Growing Conditions
Located in the cool, windy Carneros region, just north of San Pablo Bay, the vineyard features alluvial loam laced with stratified rock and is regarded as one of the finest places to grow Chardonnay in California. The Kiser Vineyard portion features Old Wente clones and is ideally located to reach ideal fruit maturity with optimal acid development.
Bottling
Bottled February 2017.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested and sorted on August 21, the grapes were gently whole-cluster-pressed to extract the juice while preventing any bitter elements. The juice was then transferred to French oak (30% new) barrels where spontaneous fermentation was allowed to begin. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation.
Aging
Aged sur-lie for 15 months with battonage (lees stirring) every two weeks to showcase the wine’s spectacular mouthfeel and structure.
Appearance
Medium lemon yellow color, bright with slow-forming tears.
Food Pairing
Rich with ripe fruit balanced by firm structure, it’s perfect with a grilled ahi tuna steak garnished with a mango salsa, or a crabcake salad.
