This Chardonnay has an enticing medium straw to light yellow color that sparkles in the glass. As it opens up, a lively streak of minerality and lemongrass aromas meld with spicy notes of nutmeg, caramel, and brioche. On the soft, supple palate, beautiful layers of honeysuckle and yellow apple mingle with notes of lime peel, pineapple and jasmine tea.
In order to maximize quality, the harvested grapes went directly to press as whole clusters and were gently pressed. This provides a distinct mouthfeel texture. After settling, the juice was racked into French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine spent its entire life in barrel, where it completed primary and secondary malolactic fermentations. It was aged on the lees for 10 months in 20% new French oak barrels, and 40% once-filled French oak barrels to complete elevage. In order to increase richness and body, it was occasionally stirred to suspend the lees and soften the texture. It was bottled on August 20, 2020.
2019 brought a moderately cool growing season. The block of Durell we work with is planted to Clone 95 and delivers small clusters and small yields of exceptional grapes. The weather stayed moderate and favorable during the growing season, so the fruit was able to hang into October and was harvested by hand on October 2, 2019.
Durell Vineyard was first planted in 1979. The fruit from this vineyard has achieved iconic status, and we are proud to have Durellas one of our Vineyard Partners. The vineyard is located at a high elevation above the town of Sonoma. The site features well-drained Los Robles soils that create a particularly appealing expression of Chardonnay. Though not located in the Petaluma Gap AVA, the tail end of the winds from that region blow through the vineyard, cooling the vines during the afternoons.
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