HARVESTED: September 2-10, 2020
VINEYARD: Santa Cruz Mountains
SOILS: loamy clay
BOTTLED: April 2021, 142 cases
COMPOSITION: 100% Chardonnay
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
WINEMAKER: Charlie Miller
VINEYARD MANAGER: Thayer Dunwoody
VINTAGE NOTES
A lack of winter rains made for an open, airy canopy and great sunlight penetration. Consistent heat resulted in even ripening and advanced flavor development at lower sugars. An earlier pick made sense in 2020 – well-balanced, energetic fruit with a solid flavor profile.
WINEMAKING NOTES
Grape clusters were hand-picked, sorted, and destemmed. The fruit sat on the skins for anywhere from 1 to 5 hours before gently basket pressing to a stainless steel tank. The juice was chilled and left to settle for 24 hours before racking off the gross lees to a variety of French barrels. 100% barrel fermented. Aged in oak for 9 months. Full malo, filtered prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
Our 2020 Chardonnay flaunts an Old World acid profile while flexing some of that fleshy, voluptuous New World character. On the nose, honey, beeswax, yellow peaches, and sea salt. In the mouth, a shock of acid and citrus skin mellowed by a long and creamy finish.
CELLARING
Enjoy now or over the next 3-5 years.