2024 Chardonnay Tasting Package (2 - 750ml)

2024 was an even growing year with abundant rainfall and a cold Winter and Spring providing ideal conditions for grape growing. The Summer was mild except one heat spike in July which we managed well by irrigating the vines before the heat arrived. The grapes matured slowly and developed intense fruit flavors.

September 3, 2024

Just pressed Chardonnay juice resembles unfiltered fruit juice. The clearer the juice, the fruitier the fermentation will be, so we clarified the juice by cold-settling it overnight at 48° F; the sediment settled to the bottom of the tank. We then pumped the juice off the sediment and inoculated it with yeast. We used four different strains of yeast, each providing a unique flavor profile to the wine.

We fermented 50% of this wine in French oak barrels to add complexity and depth; barrel fermentation integrated the oak into the wine, giving it a roasted nuts aroma and greater richness on the palate. The remaining 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 52° F to retain more of the grapes’ aromas of citrus and tropical fruit. After alcoholic fermentation, 40% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation, converting the wine’s natural malic acid to the softer lactic acid, adding a creamy character to the aroma and a rich, supple texture on the palate. The wine was aged for eight months in French oak, bottled in July, then bottled aged for 14 months before its release.

Fruit-forward and young, the 2024 Chardonnay opens with bright fruit aromas of Gravenstein apple, Bosc pear, lemon blossom and star jasmine. Its youthfulness is evident by its lively entry; pink grapefruit and guava notes are enhanced by sweet vanilla and toasted brioche flavors. The 2024 vintage has great aging potential as evidenced by its complexity on the palate and its long, lingering finish.