Palate
The ‘09 Sierra Madre shows classic Santa Maria Valley stone fruit character of peaches and apricots along with minerality. Hint of citrus and tropical fruit round out the flavor profile with delicious barrel spice.
Growing Conditions
Sierra Madre Vineyard is one of the western-most vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley (read heavily influenced by the cool coastal fog). Sierra Madre was first planted in 1971.
Winemaking
As is with all of our Chardonnay, the Sierra Madre was whole cluster pressed, chilled and settled overnight, then put into François Freres French oak barrels, 25% of which were new, for fermentation.
Aging
The wine was aged in barrel for 15 months.
