Nose
A rich melange of white flowers, candied citrus and tropical fruits.
Palate
The pomaceous 2011 Estate Chardonnay opens and builds opulent and contoured palate of lemon chiffon, ripe melon and Bartlett pear. The beautiful fruit notes are richened by notes of flaky golden pie crest, sweet cream and beeswax which then dissolves beautifully into a crips and lengthy saline-infused and chalk-inflected finish of wet stones and liquid minerals.
Growing Conditions
As a whole, the 2011 growing season was cool and moderate with lots of sunshine and minimal fog throughout the summer. It started as one of the wettest and longest lasting winters of recent times with treacherous conditions during flowering which naturally limited set and significantly reduced yields. After some unseasonably late rains, a beneficially dry and fog free pattern established itself allowing the vines long, sunlit days to ripen and mature the fruit. With climatic conditions more reminiscent of Carneros than Rutherford, the Estate fruit came in wonderfully fresh with lower levels of sugar and higher levels of acid.
Aging
10 months 69% new, 31% used
