2018 Extended Age Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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Gold Medal | SF Chronicle Wine Competition

Tasting Notes

This refined and luscious Chardonnay exudes intense aromatics of fresh vanilla bean, crème brûlée and buttered toffee. The juicy and opulent texture evokes notes of citrus and cream through the middle. The extended time in barrel has imparted this wine with a notably round mouthfeel accented with bold acidity.

Vintage Notes

2018 provided an ideal climate allowing time for the grapes to ripen to their optimum flavor structure. The year presented a fairly mild growing season with few heat spikes, inspiring winemakers to push harvest back a few weeks. This longer time on the vine was great for grapes and the mild temperatures kept the fruit from over-ripening. More than an inch of rain fell in early October in many locations, but there was little impact on the quality of the fruit. 2018 could be remembered as one of the longest and most desirable seasons in years, producing exceptional quality grapes throughout Sonoma County.

Vineyard Notes

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Katie Madigan crafts this wine in a richer, more opulent style than our other premium Chardonnays. The fruit is picked at daybreak and delivered to the winery while still cold to preserve the wine’s delicate flavors, aromas and acidity. Grapes are pressed whole cluster, then fermented sur lie in a temperature-controlled room maintained at 55 degrees to ensure a slow fermentation. For this Extended Age wine, select barrels were set aside, chosen for their taste profile and acidity level, and given an extra 12 months of aging and battonage (stirring) to impart a rounder, more complex mouthfeel.