Palate
Sublime and sophisticated, the 2018 O’Brien Estate Chardonnay’s brilliant light golden color sparkles enticingly in the glass. The full, round and floral aromatics lead the senses while the apple pie, pear, biscotti, and spice characters flesh out the palate as the full and rich entry slowly makes way for a lively and lasting, focused finish.
Growing Conditions
February saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. The relatively mild summer followed by extended fall sunshine and moderate heat created near-ideal conditions for winemakers to allow their fruit to accumulate flavor complexity with gradual increases in sugar levels.
