Nose
It is richly scented with honeysuckle, lychee and minerals.
Palate
An
expansive palate opens with concentrated flavors of Anjou pear and fresh fig; subtle accents
of raw almond, butterscotch and lemon blossom unfold in silky succession to add
complexity. Intense minerality and bright acidity emerge on the mid‐palate, lengthening a
spicy finish.
Growing Conditions
2009 began with an abundance of spring rain followed by mild, steady
summer temperatures that set the stage for nearly ideal pinot noir and chardonnay growing
conditions. The well‐set fruit ripened slowly allowing for an excellent balance of sugars and
acids to develop. The resulting wines can be characterized as elegant and rich with
profound depth and structure.
Clonal Selection: Wente
Harvest
Hand‐harvested grapes.
Bottling
Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2011.
Winemaking
Whole cluster, direct to press, cold
Barrel‐fermented with indigenous yeasts; 6 months to completion
Concurrent, spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 15 months in François Frères and Seguin Moreau French oak barrels; 86% new. Aged sur lies; biweekly bâtonnage.
Appearance
Glistening pale gold in color.