2022 Nightwing Vineyard

94 Points: Tom Capo Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide - June/July 2024

“There’s a pleasing freshness and zip to this lighter-bodied Chardon­nay. The nose shows tropical fruit aromas from papaya to pineapple, with a kiss of lemon zest. On the palate, juicy pear and apple fruit dominate, with a lovely orange blossom note and a wash of vibrant acidity.”

92 Points: MaryAnn Worobiec Wine Spectator - 2024

“Offers fresh and bright flavors of crisp apple, lemon meringue and pear, showing lemon oil, tangerine and orange blossom accents. There's an appealing fleshiness to the texture that works with the juicy acidity, with a hint of fresh ginger on the finish. Drink now.”

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in up to a 10-30% reduction in yields. The growing season was temperate, which in grape growing means we were on track or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. 2022 was a year for vintage-to-vintage variation and differentiation between vineyards. We harvested seven of the eleven blocks of Chardonnay we have planted at Nightwing. Clones 72, Mt. Eden, 809, 95 and 124. The 72 and 95 are classic Dijon with perfume and structure. Mt. Eden and 809 have floral characteristics that lift the aromatics and 124 is a Champagne clone that holds its acid and brings a vibrant energy. We picked the fruit between August 25th and September 5th of 2022 between 23º and 25º Brix.

This is our third vintage of Chardonnay from Nightwing Vineyard. The vineyard is named in honor of the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nightwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amidst the vineyard. Located in the Petaluma Gap, our new estate vineyard, perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 14.6%
• cases made:

  119 Cases

• bottling date: 08/07/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months sur lie in French oak, 23% new, 23% once-used.

• fermentation:

  Whole cluster pressed and then racked into French oak for primary and malolactic fermentation.