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Double Gold - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Tasting Notes
This elegant Chardonnay brings refreshing notes of fresh pear, crisp apple and a hint of butterscotch on the nose. Rich flavors of orange blossom honey, apple galette, roasted pear and white peach emerge on the mid-palate and complement the touch of minerality on the finish.
Vintage Notes
Cooler temperatures and an abundance of spring rains in 2023 pushed back the first day of harvest to the beginning of September. The later start and extra ripening time for the fruit allowed flavors and color to develop slowly for depth and concentration. Warm fall days spread out harvest to the end of October for many of the red varieties, with a final pick of Merlot delivered to the winery on November 2.
Vineyard Notes
We source the fruit for our Sonoma County Chardonnay from our estate vineyards in Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley, as well as from growers in Sonoma County’s other premier appellations, including Carneros and Alexander Valley. Each carefully selected vineyard contributes distinctive and individual qualities to the finished wine.
Winemaker Notes
To preserve Chardonnay’s delicate flavors, aromas and acidity, the grapes are picked at night and in the very early morning hours so the fruit arrives cold at the winery. Grapes are immediately pressed, then fermented in separate lots in French oak barrels. The wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation and is aged for six months. During aging, bâtonage (stirring the lees by hand) is performed to achieve complexity and a rich mouthfeel.
