2021 Reserve Chardonnay

The Clone        Our 2021 Reserve Chardonnay was made exclusively from the renowned “Upper Barn Clone”.  These 30-year-old vines in our “Block 2” often produce lower yields, and always have intense signature flavors of Asian pear and spice.

The Vintage     In a year best described as a “cold start to a warm, fast finish,” the harvest was a little early, with grape yields slightly lighter to average (due to a variety of water conservation efforts), yet the 2021 crop will be viewed as an excellent vintage. Our vines produced pristine grapes, with excellent natural acidity, wonderful balance, and pure varietal flavors. The grapes for our 2021 Reserve Chardonnay were harvested on August 31th at 22.6˚ Brix.

Winemaking    This wine showcases the power and sophistication of the oldest Chardonnay vines in our estate vineyard. It was fermented entirely in large format French oak casks. Indigenous yeasts performed the primary fermentation, and the wine underwent 100% spontaneous malolactic fermentation.  Additional aging took place on fine lees in one-and two-year-old Burgundian barriques and spent a total of 16 months in a combination of cask and barrel.

 The Wine       Striking a lovely balance between richness and elegance, this Chardonnay offers alluring aromas of citrus, peach, honeycomb, hazelnut, and cashew, with hints of salty sea air. Medium-to full-bodied on the palate, with a lovely underlying texture and spine of acidity that adds focus to the bright citrus and stone fruit flavors. While offering vibrant youthful appeal, it is also a wonderful candidate for cellaring.

Technical Notes

Alcohol:                    14.1%             

pH:                            3.46                

Total Acidity:           5.6 g/l

Production:               100 cases

Release Date:            Fall 2023

Bottled:                     June 2023

Suggested Retail:      $48.00