2012 Estate Chardonnay 1.5L

2012 was quite a change from 2011 and 2010, both long growing seasons with low yields. Yields were back to "normal" and the prevailing weather was warm and often mild with much less influence from the marine layer than we normally experience. We had an enviable combination of quality and quantity, something we see once or twice a decade - at best. Harvest began the first week of September with Pinot Noir from warmer sites. We began picking at the winery Estate on September 14 and finished Pinot Noir at the end of the month.  In general the wines have vivid fruit character and are very site expressive. Acidity was balanced and the wines have generous texture with great aromatics and fine tannin.
Cold, whole-cluster pressing, no settling, barrel fermentation with native yeast and spontaneous malolactic fermentations highlight the wonderful purity inherent in our Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay. This 'hand off' approach in the cellar is allows for maximum site expression. We age ferment and age our Chardonnay in three year air-dried French Oak barrels, sur-lie with no batonage. Following 10-12 months in oak, the wines are racked, with their lees, to stainless steel for an additional four to six months of élevage.
Our 2012 Santa Cruz Mountains chardonnay is a blend from our estate predominately from Langley Hill Vineyard and Damiana Vineyard.

Langley Hill Vineyard is our largest estate Chardonnay. Planted in 1979-1980, this 5.25-acre vineyard occupies a steep hillside with numerous exposures and soil depths. This complex arrangement leads to slower and varied ripening, requiring multiple picks spread over weeks rather than days. Fractured sandstone over Lambert Shale yields Chardonnay that is steely and structured with persistent citrus and mineral flavors.

Damiana Vineyard is our oldest vineyard, planted in 1978, often producing dense and opulent Chardonnay. Its exposure is primarily southwestern, leading to more sun during the growing season, though this site is heavily influenced by maritime breeze most afternoons. Shallow topsoil of fractured Lambert Shale and mudstone limit vigor and lead to wines with great concentration and intensity. This vineyard is typically the first to be harvested of our estate Chardonnay.