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Wild Oak Vineyard
Gold Medal | Sonoma County Harvest Fair | 2022
Tasting Notes
Tropical on the nose, our 2020 wild Oak Chardonnay greets you with scents of fresh pineapple and lemon peel. Notes of marzipan and light cream cascade the palate before a snappy acidic finish. The Sonoma Valley’s fog-coated mornings that transition into sun-soaked afternoons reflect the wine’s balance of high acidity, spice, and creaminess.
Vintage Notes
The 2020 growing season enjoyed near-perfect growing conditions. With minimal rain this winter, the vines were awakened with ideal moderate, spring-time temperatures which eliminated any frost threat to the developing buds. At most sites, fruit set was during the optimal timeframe due to warm, consistent conditions. Veraison occurred 7-10 days earlier than previous years due to the temperate weather and minimal rain. Moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights throughout the summer months with a few of the normal short-lived heat spikes allowed for excellent flavor development. The year saw an early harvest with 90% of the region’s grapes being picked before wildfires threatened the region in late Fall.
Vineyard Notes
Our Estate Wild Oak vineyard was planted to four different chardonnay clones in order to offer a variety of complexity through aromas & textures. For this vintage, winemaker Katie Madigan combines clone 76 which produces a spicier more mineral driven chardonnay, clone 95 which adds a richness in the mouthfeel, and a touch of tropical notes from clone 548.
Winemaker Notes
Each clone is picked & fermented separately in bbl. Hand stirring occurs 2x/week after alcoholic fermentation, and when mouthfeel + acidity are in balance malolactic fermentation is halted & the wine begins its elevage period. The wine stays in bbl for 8 months without racking, until the final blend is created right before bottling.
