VINEYARDS 30% Schug Estate; 23% Ricci; 13% Wildcat Mountain; 10% Cornerstones; 9% Sangiacomo Tallgrass; 6% Iund; 5% Wood Valley; 4% Leveroni
APPELLATION 91% Carneros; 9% Sonoma Valley  
SUGAR AT HARVEST 24.3 degrees Brix average
FERMENTATION 100% barrel fermented
AGING/COOPERAGE Aged “sur-lie” for 8 months in 17% new medium toast French “Allier” oak barrels
ALCOHOL 14.1% by volume
ACIDITY TA = 0.70 g/100ml; pH = 3.44  

WINEMAKER'S NOTES
This classic Carneros Chardonnay was grown on our own cool-climate Estate vineyard, as well as the Ricci, Cornerstone, Wildcat, Sangiacomo, Leveroni and Iund Vineyards. It was barrel fermented and aged on the lees (“surlie”) in small French oak barrels, with minimal new oak introduced. Malo-lactic fermentation was not induced, allowing the wine to retain its natural acidity and varietal focus. The result is a wine that is both rich and powerful, while refreshing and elegant on the finish. It has a ripe, spicy tropical bouquet with flavors that suggest citrus, pear and spiced apples. Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food. Try it with cream soups, rich seafood, fowl, veal and pasta dishes.

Accolades

Wine Advocate - 90 pts - "The 2015 Carneros Chardonnay offers subtle grapefruit, nectarines and fresh hay on the nose with a hint of lemon peel. Medium-bodied, it has a lovely silkiness to the texture and a good concentration of fresh, youthful citrus fruit, finishing with a savory/yeastiness." - January 2017

Wine Enthusiast - 88pts - "This wine is sourced from a handful of sites in the appellation, combining tropical, fleshy pineapple and vanilla with a lush texture and body. As it develops in the glass, its concentration is further accented in a taste of baked pear." - June 2017