Growing Conditions

- Site: Hyde Vineyard is on the Napa side of the Carneros District. Summer temperatures are kept relatively cool by marine air flowing through the Petaluma Gap. Ancient creek beds provide drainage and add a scattering of rocks.

- Soil: The soils are heavy Haire Clay Loam about 30 inches deep with impenetrable clay subsoil which limits vine vigor and crop yield.

- Clonal Selection: Old Wente field selection

- Planted: The Ramey Wine Cellars block of Chardonnay was planted in 1997 and 1999.

Harvest

The 2018 season was exemplary. Spring was drier than in 2017, and after two years of poor set, consistently mild weather led to good berry set. Higher cluster counts than the low yielding years of 2015-2017, coupled with cooler late summer temperatures, brought longer hang times with harvest dates up to two weeks later than the previous vintage.

Harvested: September 6, 2018

Bottling

Tthe Chardonnay was traditionally fined for clarity and texture and bottled without filtration.

Winemaking

We press whole grape clusters for phenolic delicacy. Native yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies bâtonnage.

Aging

Aging 20 months in 25% new François Frères and Taransaud Beaune French oak barrels.