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Wild Oak Vineyard
Tasting Notes
This Chardonnay, crafted from our Certified Sustainable Wild Oak Estate Vineyard, exudes an airy freshness with inviting aromas of Meyer lemon, kiwi, and a hint of ginger. On the palate, it showcases an elegant balance of acidity, unveiling vibrant flavors of apple fritter and a delicate nuttiness. Subtle notes of toasted oak add depth, while the crisp fruit and refined minerality create a harmonious, bright 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
Our Estate Wild Oak vineyard was planted to a variety of different chardonnay clones in order to offer complexity through aromas & textures. For this vintage, winemaker Katie Madigan combines 80% clone 76, which produces a spicier, more mineral-driven chardonnay, and 20% clone 4, which gives balance to the mouthfeel.
Winemaker Notes
Each clone is picked & fermented separately in barrel. Hand stirring occurs 2x/week after the completion of alcoholic fermentation, and when mouthfeel and acidity are in balance, malolactic fermentation is halted & the wine begins its elevage period. The wine stays in barrel without racking until the final blend is created a few months before bottling.
