Harvest Date October 8

Growing Season Cool summer weather on Sonoma Mountain contributed to a long growing season in 1999. This produced excellent flavor retention in the fruit, with high acidity and low pH. The warm sunny weather of early autumn fully ripened this high elevation Chardonnay to optimum maturity.

Winemaking

• Hand-harvested grapes
• Whole cluster, direct to press
• Barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts, 8 months to completion
• Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels
• Aged 14 months in 100% new Francois Freres and Cadus French oak barrels, sur-lies and stirred
• Bottled unfined and unfiltered, January 2001