HARVESTED: September 5 – September 24, 2018
VINEYARD LOCATION: Woodside, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga
SOILS: Clay loam
BOTTLED: May, 2019, 464 cases
COMPOSITION: 100% Chardonnay
ALCOHOL: 13.8%
WINEMAKER: Colin McNany
VINTAGE NOTES
A cool spring pushed bud break to early April with flowering in June. A moderate summer, with
temperatures lower than normal, allowed fruit to mature slowly and evenly. For the first time in
many years there was no heat spike in September, again, allowing for extended hang time and
phenolic ripeness. Overall, fruit came in later, with yields up, sugars down, and quality
exceeding expectations – any winemaker’s dream!
WINEMAKING NOTES
We harvest our Chardonnay vineyards in three separate blocks of time, Saratoga and Woodside
coming in 2 weeks earlier than Los Altos Hills. The fruit is handpicked, destemmed, and sorted
on the shaker table. We allow for skin contact anywhere from 4-12 hours before pressing small
vineyard-specific batches in our 1 ton stainless steel basket press. The juice is cold settled
overnight, and racked into barrels where the juice is either inoculated with a commercial yeast
strain or allowed to begin fermentation spontaneously with its native yeasts. Our 2018
Chardonnay completed malolactic fermentation, adding softness to the palate while maintaining
its energetic acid frame. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
TASTING NOTES
Bosc pear and white flowers vibrate from this nervy Chardonnay. Honey and almond stand out
against a creamy backdrop kept tight with lively acid. Swirl your glass plenty and enjoy all the
layers this wine has to offer.
CELLARING
Intended to be consumed now but could be cellared for 2-5 years.