Nose
Aromas of tangerine, pear, pineapple, toasted hazelnut, subtle floral, honeycomb, and slate.
Palate
The entry is bright, with tart citrus flavors, followed by a creamy mid-palate accented with subtle toasted marshmallow, generously framed by bright acidity. The wine has a long finish, with subtle toast notes and lingering minerality and citrus. The long native fermentations enable this wine to show the intense personality of the vineyard and offer the opportunity for aging.
Growing Conditions
Larry Hyde farms some of the most sought after grapes in the cool Carneros growing region of Napa. This wine is a blend of two blocks of Chardonnay from the Hyde Vineyard. Hyde Vineyard is one of the most prestigious vineyards in Carneros and the wines always show incredible depth and personality – very floral, fresh and elegant. The signature minerality and intensity of the Hyde Vineyard are showcased in this 2014 Chardonnay
Winemaking
The grapes were hand-picked, carefully sorted, gently pressed and barrel fermented in new French oak. The wine went through native fermentation with a little bâtonnage (stirring) to help the yeasts. Fermentation lasted for five months and was followed by a 100% native malolactic fermentation.
Aging
The wine was racked once after one year and spent a total of 18 months in 40% new French Burgundy barrels.
