Nose
Aromas of gardenias, golden apples and fresh almonds.
Palate
The full‐
bodied, viscous palate is seamlessly layered with lemon zest, crème brûlée and toasted
brioche. Notes of minerality linger, accented with Anjou pear and melon over a memorable
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 Selections: Wente, See
Harvest
Hand‐harvested grapes
Bottling
Unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2011.
Winemaking
Whole cluster, direct to press, cold
Barrel‐fermented with indigenous yeasts; 4 months to completion
Concurrent spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 13 months in French oak barrels; 67% new; Aged sur lies; biweekly bâtonnage.
Appearance
Glistening pale gold and subtle grassy green hues.