Nose

It is richly scented with honeysuckle, lychee and minerals.  

Palate

An expansive palate opens with concentrated flavors of Anjou pear and fresh fig; subtle accents of raw almond, butterscotch and lemon blossom unfold in silky succession to add complexity.  Intense minerality and bright acidity emerge on the mid‐palate, lengthening a spicy finish. 

Growing Conditions

2009 began with an abundance of spring rain followed by mild, steady summer temperatures that set the stage for nearly ideal pinot noir and chardonnay growing conditions.  The well‐set fruit ripened slowly allowing for an excellent balance of sugars and acids to develop.     The resulting wines can be characterized as elegant and rich with profound depth and structure. Clonal Selection:  Wente

Harvest

Hand‐harvested grapes.

Bottling

Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2011.

Winemaking

 Whole cluster, direct to press, cold  Barrel‐fermented with indigenous yeasts; 6 months to completion  Concurrent, spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels

Aging

Aged 15 months in François Frères and Seguin Moreau French oak barrels; 86% new. Aged sur lies; biweekly bâtonnage.

Appearance

Glistening pale gold in color.