Nose
It exhibits a nose of white flowers, honeydew melon and stone fruits.
Palate
Richly textured and
elegant, the structured palate sings with succulent flavors of orange blossom, citrus oil and
Bosch pear. Notes of butterscotch, custard, white peach and Golden Delicious apple fill the
mouth and lead to a seemingly unstoppable finish.
Growing Conditions
2011 began with a wet winter and spring across Sonoma and Napa
Counties. Summer was warm, and as harvest approached temperatures rose. Our
chardonnay ripened fully and evenly, allowing sugars and acid to develop in balance. The
wines from 2011 are bright, expressive and faceted.
Clonal Selection: Wente
Harvest
Hand‐harvested grapes
Bottling
Unfined and unfiltered; bottled August 2012.
Winemaking
Whole cluster, direct to press, cold
Barrel‐fermented with indigenous yeasts; 4 months to completion
Concurrent voluntary malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 11 months in French oak barrels; 67% new[ Aged sur lies; biweekly bâtonnage.
Appearance
The exquisite chardonnay is lustrous dark golden straw hue.