This wine is made from 100% estate-grown, cellared, and bottled grapes. The light straw color leads into a bouquet of fresh-baked bread, pear and a hint of lemongrass. On the palate, pears, delicious apples, butterscotch, and a touch of mineral notes lead to a pleasant finish.
The fourth and final Chardonnay lot of 2006, picked in September and pressed a few hours later. The juice was settled overnight, then transferred to a stainless steel tank for fermentation. Following fermentation, the wine aged 10 months in stainless steel barrels. 109 cases were bottled in July 2007
Originally planted in 1979 and 1980 on predominantly AXR rootstock, this 5-acre vineyard on the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz mountains has been replanted on St. George and 110R rootstock. The unirrigated vineyard is on an east-west ridge and the soils change from gravel to shallow clay as the vineyard descends from 1,000 to 900 feet.
The rainfall for 2005-2006 was 38.9 inches, about 34% above average. Early rain in November and December gave the plants a good start for wintering. Had a cold spell in mid-February, but the Viognier was fine. Heavy March rains continued into April, giving the vineyard a good watering up to middle spring. A 100+ heat spell in early July followed by a cooler than average summer ensured fruit ripening and long hang time before harvest.