2009 Colmbia Valley Chardonnay

Growing Season

We went through budbreak 7-10 days late in most of our vineyards, pushing us to make decisions to help catch up. We had moderate warmth through the summer and a slightly cooler August and early September. Luckily we had a decent Indian summer and that allowed us to obtain maturity in just about everything for the vintage. In all I think this will end up being a better vintage than 2008 across the board due to the fact that we had more control in all of our vineyards.

Winemaking

Primary fermentation took place in concrete, followed by a partial malo-lactic fermentation and fourteen months of aging in 100% new French oak barrels. For future releases, as the vines age and ripening becomes more even and more manageable as a result, the amount of new oak used will be diminished.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

A dense nose of lemon rind and puff pastry, with hints of caramel and butterscotch. Some caramelized pear, set against a background of graham cracker and hay. Swirling releases bright peach and honeysuckle tones. The palate, bright and intense, features a rich buttered texture at its core, the weight of it nicely concealed by the brightness. Try it now, but more development time in the bottle will bring ample reward to the patient.