Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2017
Trade Tools
America / Sta. Rita Hills
The Chardonnay grapes are sourced from vines planted on rolling hills near the cooling Pacific Ocean. After harvest, the grapes are gently whole-cluster pressed and transferred to tanks for cold settling. The juice is then inoculated with yeast and racked to French oak barrels, where it undergoes fermentation, with stirring of the lees for added texture and complexity. Partial malolactic fermentation is allowed. All lots are kept separate throughout vinification and aging to ensure greater character, distinctiveness and quality. The wine is aged in oak barrels before bottling.
Tasting Note
This is a bright, juicy Chardonnay with aromas of honeydew melon, brioche, green apple and baking spices. Lively acidity accompanies flavors of banana, toasted oak, and honey, which coat the palate. Silky viscosity precedes a lengthy finish.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 100% Chardonnay
APPELLATION: Sta. Rita Hills
PH: 3.82
ACIDITY: 7.4 g/L
ABV: 14.3%
AGING: 18 months
Unique Selling Points
- A rich Chardonnay with 17 months of oak aging and buttery qualities
“The combination of climate and soil diversity found in the Sta. Rita Hills offer some of the best grape growing conditions I’ve ever seen.”
Dave Frazier, Winemaker
About the Grape
Chardonnay
Though it has a distinctive profile, Chardonnay reflects other factors such as soil composition and vinification technique. Chardonnay is a reliable, hardy and prolific vine whose only real vulnerabilities are frost and uneven development of fruit.
