Nose
Lively aromas of yellow flowers, custard, mandarin oil, and stone fruit.
Palate
The richly textured,
seamlessly structured palate is layered with stone fruits, lemon zest, Crenshaw melon and
Granny Smith apple. Mineral notes linger over a pleasurable finish.
Growing Conditions
2010 began with a wet winter and spring across Sonoma County. Summer
was cool, though as harvest approached temperatures rose. Our pinot noir and chardonnay
ripened fully and evenly, allowing sugars and acid to develop in balance. The wines from
2010 are bright, expressive and elegant.
Edward James Estate, Ellen Lane Estate, O’Connor, Richard Dinner, Ross Station,
Ulises Valdez.
Clonal Selections: Wente, Bato, 15, 4, Robert Young.
Harvest
Hand‐harvested grapes.
Bottling
Unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2012.
Winemaking
Whole cluster, direct to press, cold
Barrel‐fermented with indigenous yeasts; 4 months to completion
Concurrent native malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 12 months in French oak barrels; 52% new; Aged sur lies; biweekly bâtonnage.
Appearance
The quintessential Russian River Valley Chardonnay, this wine has a lustrous golden hue.