Napa Valley Chardonnay

GROWING SEASON
Despite an unusually dry winter and warm spring, bud break was delayed due to light rains in March. The general lack of rain resulted in light clusters and small berries, leading to reduced yields and high concentration. Harvest started on 5 August with Semillon, and the early heat generated a fast and furious first few weeks of harvest. A necessary cooling in mid-September allowed sugars to realign with flavour development. Moderate temperatures continued throughout the rest of the season, providing additional ripening time for the grapes. Our last red grapes were harvested before the rains in late October, resulting in beautiful, dense, pure and polished wines.

ELABORATION
NAME: Napa Valley
SUB-DENOMINATIONS: Carneros, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak, Oak Knoll, St. Helena
VARIETAL: 100% Chardonnay
FERMENTATION AND AGEING: 90% barrel fermented, 10% tank fermented. Aged in French oak 100%, 40% new, 60% neutral.
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION: 40%
ALCOHOL: 14.1%
pH: 3.55