Our Estate Chardonnay is our most historic wine. From our very first vintages in the late 1970s, this label has been responsible for our world-class reputation growing this noble grape. For this 2017 edition, all the fruit came from our own Sarah’s Vineyard blocks in the cool climate Mt. Madonna district in the foothills of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. The fogs and winds off nearby Monterey Bay moderate our warm daytime temperatures and provide perfect conditions for growing superb Chardonnay.
Tim’s tasting notes: “Notes of fresh green and yellow apples with white pear and peach, accented with lemongrass and a touch of warm shortbread cookie. The finish shows a lengthy vanilla bean character alongside sweet almond cream. Pair with a leek and goat cheese tart, cracked crab with drawn butter, or cream-sauced pasta dishes.”
The various clones of Chardonnay off our own estate blocks all showed great focus and purity, with near perfect sugar / acid balance at harvest. Hand-picking took place in mid-September that year.
After hand sorting, the free run and light press juice began primary fermentation using yeast D254 in French oak barrels. Malo-lactic fermentation was induced. The wine was aged for eleven months in small French oak cooperage, twenty-five percent of which was new wood. The lees were “stirred” in each barrel twice monthly.
Appellation: Santa Clara Valley
Vineyard: Sarah's Estate
Grower: Tim Slater
Alcohol: 14.3
Cooperage: French oak, 25% new, 11 months
Bottling Date: July 2018
Production: 275
