Producer's Notes:

The fruit in this Chardonnay was grown primarily on our Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard in Carneros, with some select lots from the renowned Hyde Vineyard blended in. The grapes were carefully sorted, whole cluster pressed and barrel fermented using 100% native yeast. The wine spent 10 months in French oak barrels.

The Napa Valley Vintners Association described the 2013 growing season as “early, even and excellent” with the vintage showing tremendous promise and potential. The warm, dry spring brought early bud break and ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set. Temperatures were consistent throughout the summer with the exception of one heat spike in late June / early July. Billed as the earliest harvest in recent history, we began picking Chardonnay on September 1 st , grapes came in at a furious pace throughout the month. Overall, harvest finished about two weeks earlier than normal and yields on the whole were above average.

This wine is vibrant gold in color with aromas of jasmine, ripe, sweet pear and peach, pineapple, popcorn, golden delicious apple, toffee, and vanilla bean. The smooth, bright entry offers the prelude to an elegant, delicate wine with lots of personality, weight and volume. The acidity is well balanced by the flavor and texture of the wine. Flavors of ripe fruits are accented by complex barrel notes, leading to a lengthy, sophisticated finish.