Vineyard Notes: 100% Willamette Valley Chardonnay from Loubejac Vineyard picked 9/21/20
Organically farmed, non-irrigated Dijon clone 96 Chardonnay
Planted in Helmick/Willakenzie silty clay loam soils in 2007/2008 on 101-14 rootstock
Vines spaced 5×8, facing northeast and ranging from 350ft-380ft on a 6% slope
Vinification Notes: Whole cluster pressed; the heart was kept green with sulfur in the press pan. One press cut isolated the hard press, which was never sulfured. After 24 hours of cold settling on organic yeast hulls, the heart was racked off all solids into a warming stainless tank. Once ambient yeast fermentation started, the must was chaptalized 0.5% and racked into oak. Primary fermentation completed alongside or just after malolactic completed in late December. It aged 11 months in a once-filled 350L Damy Allier Long Light puncheon, a second fill 350L Damy Vosges Medium Long puncheon and a fourth-filled 228L Damy Vosges Medium Long barrel before being racked off lees into steel for a second winter. Cold stabilized and bottled unfiltered on February 11, 2022. Closed with 49x 23.5mm DIAM 10.
Tasting Notes: Decorous but eager scents of salted green mango, honeydew, with notes of jasmine tea and wet, briny minerals. Coiled with bright acidity, salty citrus flavors and chalky texture finish with precision and verve.