1998 Chardonnay, Gravel Ridge Vineyard

These grapes were picked in two lots in September 1998 at a median brix of 23.5. The juice was immediately pressed off the skins, separated by lots, and inoculated for fermentation in stainless steel tanks.  As soon as fermentation was established, the wine was barreled down to French Oak barrels to complete both the alcohol and the malolactic fermentations over the next eleven months.  When malolactic fermentation finished the following spring, the wine was racked off the lees and allowed to settle again before final filtration and bottling of 567 cases in August 1999.  The wine was released in June 2001.