2003
Paul Hobbs Chardonnay, Cuvee Agustina, Richard Dinner Vineyard
Winemaker's Notes
Cuvee Agustina, named for my daughter, is a selection of the best barrels of our Richard Dinner Vineyard Chardonnay. It is produced only in the very best vintages. Warm gold in color with a nose of honeysuckle and spice, this wine is unctuous and mouth-filling. On the palate, flavors of pear and spiced apple intermix with lively notes of orange blossom and lemon custard, which linger through the enduring. velvety finish. Alcohol 14.8%
Vineyard
Owner/Manager
Caroline and Patricia Dinner /Joe Votek
Vineyard
Richard Dinner Vineyard
Clones
Old Wente, Robert Young selection
Vineyard Age
21 years
Site
Hillside, northern exposure, gray clay-loam and gravel with sub-soil lens of volcanic tuft
Yield
Less than 1 ton /acre
Harvest
Harvest Date
October 2 - 9, 2003
Harvest Brix
24.2° - 25.0°
Growing Season
The 2003 growing season began as a difficult one with hot and cold spikes. Rain in late spring prolonged bud break, and resulted unusual ripening patterns. Diligent work in the vineyard throughout a consistently warm summer resulted in wines of complexity and power.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested grapes
Whole cluster press
Barrel fermented with indigenous yeasts; 2 months to completion
Concurrent spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels; 6 months to completion
Aged 15 months in Francois Freres, Seguin Moreau, Cadus, and Alan Fouquet French oak barrels; 89% new
Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2005
