2018 Chardonnay

The Vintage
The 2018 vintage will be one described by poets and songwriters…it was a season of dreams. The harvest began in earnest the second week of September, which is considered normal in most years, but for the past three or four harvests it would seem late. The season was of almost perfect pace and timing, with fruit ripening on a gradual scale which allowed for a much more relaxed tenor to the usual more frantic time of year. The term “hang-time” gets used a lot in describing harvests, but 2018 sure proved to be the harvest of hang-time. A moderate summer, leading to a moderate fall weather pattern allowed for full flavor development across all varieties.

Winemaking
Time honored, traditional, and hand crafted are the words I use to describe my wine-making style. This Chardonnay is selected row by row and bunch by bunch from our Russian River Valley Ranch vineyard. The whole bunches of grapes are placed into the press and gently squeezed to extract the juice. The juice is then cold settled with no additions made. After 24-36 hours of cold settling the juice is transferred to 100% French oak barrels in which 35-45% are new. The remaining 60-65 % of the barrels are one and two years old. A special mix of the previous vintage’s lees is added to the juice as well as a selection of new yeast. The yeast that is used is a Bourgogne strain called CY3079. The juice ferments in the barrel and ages for 13 months.


Tasting Notes
This wine is rich and inviting with a firm structure and a lingering finish. Alluring notes of butterscotch, caramel, and lemon rind fill the bouquet. A youthful and energetic wine, the Trione 2018 Chardonnay will age gracefully for years to come. Enjoy!