Nose

Fresh crisp apple, lemon chiffon and juicy pineapple all come to mind.

Palate

Suggestions of warm brioche and hazelnut lead way to a pleasing palate bursting with ripe apple, key lime and plump apricot.

Growing Conditions

The length of the 2005 growing season allowed for the development of ripe fruit character.

County Composition: 66% Napa, 18% Mendocino, 15% Sonoma, 1% Marin

Winemaking

Small lots of malolactic- and barrel-fermented wines are added for complexity.

Barrel Fermentation: 22%

Aging

The wine is aged on the yeast lees in the bottle for some two years prior to disgorgement.

Food Pairing

While this wine can be enjoyed by itself as an apéritif, it is also perfect with fresh oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, ceviche and grilled sea bass. It is also delicious with lemon chicken and Thai curries. Serve with aged Gouda or other hard cheeses and as a counterpoint to soft triple creams.