2017 Olivet Lane

90 Points: Virginie Boone Wine Enthusiast - April 2020

“The well-established site in the heart of the appellation contributes dark, brooding flavors of baked apple, spice and oak to this richly layered wine, thick in pineapple and crème brûlée. It lurks in acidity, keeping the palate refreshed.”

The 2017 growing season started off as a wet one. Record rainfall through April invigorated the vines and bolstered canopies. Moderate-to-warm temperatures followed, allowing the vines to bloom and mature fruit in a balanced and tempered way. We did apply more leafing in our canopy management to counter the invigorating effects of the rain. All of our Chardonnay blocks were picked prior to the devastating wine country fires in early October, leaving all wine lots free of possible smoke influence. Grapes were picked on September 4th, 2017.

Planted by the Pellegrini family in 1975, today, Olivet Lane is managed by the fourth generation of the family to be involved in winegrowing. The vineyard, which is named for the mature olive trees at the property entrance, is located in the Santa Rosa Plain neighborhood of Russian River Valley, on an undulating benchland of well-drained, gravelly, clay loam soil. The foundation of this wine is the coveted Old Wente selection, a heritage clone that has played a key role in some of California’s greatest Chardonnays.

• composition:

  100% Chardonnay

• alcohol: 14.3%
• cases made:

  72 Cases

• bottling date: 08/13/2018
• aging:

  Aged 10 months sur lie in French oak, 33% new.

• fermentation:

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