Growing Conditions
The fruit for this wine comes from our Vista Montone vineyard. This cool-climate site in south Napa is just a few miles east of San Pablo Bay and Carneros, and sits in a breezy corridor at a higher elevation. We source from two blocks of Clone 76 (a Burgundian clone) from different parts of the vineyard. Block 11C is located on a hillside, where it receives less sun exposure and is slower ripening, producing fruit with a dense, yet elegant understated style, much like Evalyn. Block 8C is planted in a flat area between two hills that enjoys full sun, resulting in fruit that is bright, expressive and lively, just like Vera.
Winemaking
To preserve all the personality of this Chardonnay, each block has its own unique
fermentation and aging regimen. The 11C fruit is fermented and aged in equal parts of new French oak and new Austrian oak to emphasize the rich aromas and flavors, with 10% of the wine undergoing malolactic fermentation. The 8C fruit is fermented and aged in used oak and concrete to retain its vibrant character.
