Vineyard
Ritchie Vineyard is widely spaced, as was the fashion in the early ‘70s. These old, gnarly trunked vines produce small clusters with distinct “hen and chick” berry sizes.
Harvest Date: Aug 20
Brix: 22.1˚
Soil: The bench land soil is gravelly, sandy Goldridge Loam, originating from the bed of an ancient inland sea, over volcanic Tuff rock. The vine rows slope down from an old, volcanic vent jutting up through the sandstone.
Clones: Old Wente selection, with a few scattered Musqué selection vines planted in 1972
AVA: Russian River Valley
Winemaking
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Fermentation: We press whole grape clusters for phenolic delicacy. Native yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies bâtonnage.
Aging: After aging 20 months in 20% new Taransaud Beaune French oak barrels, the Chardonnay was traditionally fined for clarity and texture and bottled without filtration.
