Winemaker's Notes
Straw yellow color with a pearl sheen; ripe, heady aromas of peach, apricot, lime, and baked custard. Generous flavors of tropical fruits mix with apple and vanilla notes. Opulent with a firm acidity, this lavish Chardonnay is well balanced with a crisp, lingering finish. Alcohol 14.8%
Vineyard
Vineyards
Hanna Vineyard , O'Connor Vineyard
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Clones
Hanna Vineyard : Clone 4 and Clone 6 O'Connor Vineyard : Clone 4 and Clone 6
Site
Goldridge yellow and brown sandy-loam soils
Yield
2.5 - 3.0 tons/acre
Harvest
Harvest Date
October 1
Harvest Brix
24.4° & 26.4°
Growing Season
An early spring frost in the Russian River Valley reduced crop yields throughout the region. Cool weather for most of the summer allowed for a slow development of the rich flavors that revealed themselves in the warm days of harvest.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested grapes
Whole cluster, direct to pres
Barrel fermented with indigenous yeast, 6 months to completion
Concurrent native malolactic fermentation in barrels
Barrel aged 11 months, 55% new French oak, sur-lies and stirred
