Nose

On the nose, peach and tropical pineapple are supported by toast and brioche.

Palate

The fruit gains intensity in the mouth bringing some ripe apple to the full mouthfeel. This Chardonnay is complex and rich, balanced with bright acidity which leads into the long crisp finish.

Growing Conditions

The growing season of 2016 got off to an early start with bloom just a few days later than the record early harvest of 2015. Mild weather through the summer allowed the grapes to ripen at a moderate rate developing deep intense character.

Main Clones: UCD 96, UCD 4, UCD 5, UCD 108

Average Yields: 3 Tn/Acre

Harvest

As a result of the early spring, harvest came in early too, beginning a full2 1/2 weeks earlier than the average. Mild weather through the harvest brought the fruit in at a slow pace allowing us to handpick each block at optimal ripeness and get the fruit into the winery early in the day while it's still cold. The yields were average, a welcome development after the rollercoaster of record highs and lows of recent years. The fruit quality was excellent, and finishing up harvest two weeks early gave us more time to enjoy the rest of autumn.

Handpicked between August 29th, 2016 and September 2nd, 2016

Winemaking

Chardonnay grapes, from individual vineyard blocks, were carefully hand harvested at night into small 30lb picking boxes in order to bring the fruit into the winery intact and cold. The grapes were then gently whole-cluster pressed and transferred to a stainless steel tank for cold settling. The racked juice was inoculated and transferred, for barrel fermentation, into French oak barrels (25% new) in our barrel caves. About 31% of the wine was allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation to soften the bright acidity of our Estate Chardonnay. The barrels were stirred (battonage) to mix the lees and build the supple mouthfeel of the wine during monthly toppings. The wine rested for 9 months in barrels prior to bottling.

Aging

100% French oak (25% new) for 9 months

Food Pairing

The crisp acidity and stone fruit flavors of this unique chardonnay compliments a variety of dishes. Peach on the palette combined with delicate oak pair with grilled peaches with spiced crème fraiche. From the grill try jerk spiced pork tenderloin with pineapple and jalapeño salsa or grilled sweet corn with chipotle lime butter and Cotija cheese.