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1998

Chardonnay

Kunde Vineyard,
Sonoma Valley

Rich concentrated aromas of baked apple, smoked hazelnut, and apricot. The palate is filled with intense flavors of ripe peach, nectarine, and guava. The oak flavors are well integrated and enhance the structure. There is a nice mineral edge to the lingering finish. This is a showy wine with very approachable flavors that should continue to evolve complexity in the bottle for the next few years. Alcohol 14.3%

 

Harvest Date October 8

Growing Season A cool, damp, spring delayed the start of the growing season, and contributed to a small crop yield. An extended, warm Indian Summer allowed the fruit to reach maturity with rich, complex flavors.

Winemaking

• Hand-harvested grapes
• Whole cluster, direct-to-press
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeast, 8 months to completion
• Concurrent, spontaneous malolactic fermentation
• Barrel aged 10 months, 55% new French oak, sur-lies and stirred
• Unblended, unfined; bottled August 1999