Vineyard: 100% chardonnay from Koosah Farm picked 9/15/21
Organically farmed, non-irrigated mixed clones, primarily Dijon 95 and 76
Steep Parret, Saum and Witzel silty clay loam soils over volcanic basalt. Planted in 2016 on mixed rootstocks
Vines spaced 5×7.5, facing southeast and ranging from 800ft-985ft on a 22% slope
Vintage: Bud break occurred during a warm week in mid-April, and May was warm and dry. After an early start to bloom, the second week of June brought cooler, breezy, and humid weather, with 1.25 inches of rain. Flowering finished closer to average timing in the second and third weeks of June. At the end of the month, a strong highpressure system trapped extreme heat in the valley for three days, causing daytime highs to reach 115°F and causing the vines to shut down. July was seasonably warm and dry, with the heat intensifying towards the end of the month. Early August was hot and dry, reaching a peak of 105° F in the second week before cooling off towards the end of the month. September was a very pleasant month, with warm days, cool evenings, and just enough precipitation. I began picking in the Dundee Hills on August 30th and I finished in the Eola-Amity Hills on September 22nd.
Vinification: Koosah Farm was picked 9/15/21 and crushed into the press. Multiple press fractions were browned in cold stainless-steel tanks for 6 hours before a 35ppm sulfur addition. The hard press was not sulfured. Ambient yeast fermentations began with pied de cuve in warming steel tanks before lots were transferred with solids to a mix of new, once fill and twice fill 350L, 400L and 500L Damy puncheons. Primary fermentation completed quickly in the middle press fraction in three weeks, lees were not stirred. Primary completed in the early press fraction alongside ambient malolactic in early spring 2022. Lees were stirred as needed, a couple of times. After one year in oak, the best blend of Koosah was made in steel from 40% new, 25% once filled and 35% twice filled puncheons. After six months in steel, the 2021 Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay will be bottled 2/28/23 under DIAM 10 cork. No fining or filtration.