2017 Damiana Vineyard Chardonnay

Record setting rains replenished our thirsty soils and gave our old vines a much needed reprieve from four drought stressed seasons. The 2017 vintage was another year of record setting heat, continuing our string of warm growing seasons. Luckily, spring was mild, and allowed us to set the best crop we have seen since 2012. A torrid heat spike over the labor day started the growing season with a bang and had us off and running at sprinter’s pace. The weather following was mild and allowed for the latest harvest we have seen in some time. It will go down as a vintage with good yields and even better quality.

"Soft, creamy aromas of nectarine and apricot meet with warmer touches of butterscotch and crème fraîche on the light yet lush nose of this bottling. There's a chalky, grippy texture to the sip, where a toasty backdrop upholds flavors of baked lemon, macadamia nut and sea salt." - Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast 93 points
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.
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.