2018 Olivet Lane

The 2018 growing season began with warm winter weather, before things turned cool and rainy in February, which prevented an early bud break. While the rains continued, things warmed up again in March, providing ideal nutrients and growing conditions for the vines. From June onwards, the weather was lovely and temperate, with sunny days and cool nights ensuring excellent flavor development and acid retention in the grapes. As harvest drew near, the weather turned warm providing a final push to ripeness. We harvested these grapes in the cool evening hours of September 27th, 2018.

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: 13.1%
• cases made:

  72 Cases

• bottling date: 08/05/2019
• 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.