Vineyards
Coming from special vineyard sites, our Chardonnays show great depth of flavor, length of finish, aromatic complexity, and a fine balance between richness and delicacy. Typically, the climate is cool and the soil vigor low, producing graceful yet vibrant wines. The 2021 vintage is 55% Westside Farms, 18% Kilcullen, 13% Dutton Sebastopol, 10% Martinelli Charles Ranch, and 4% Frank Johnson.
Harvest Date: Aug 28 – Sept 6
Brix: 22.4˚ average
Soil: These are cool sites, with low vigor soil such as Goldridge Loam, planted between 1978 and 2006.
Clones: The vineyards are mostly planted to UC Davis Clone 4, known for its prominent acidity and large clusters, with lesser percentages of Wente and aromatic clones like Rued.
AVA: Russian River Valley
Winemaking
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Fermentation: We press whole clusters for phenolic delicacy. Native-yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies bâtonnage.
Aging: After aging 12 months in 10% new French oak barrels (Taransaud Beaune, François Frères), the Chardonnay was traditionally fined for clarity during the following harvest and bottled without filtration in January 2023.
