Chamisal Vineyards - 2008 Estate Chardonnay

As a blend of the variety of clones from different blocks throughout our vineyard, our Estate wines are bold, beautiful and capture the complete expression of the estate and that varietal.

Appellation: Chamisal Vineyard, Edna Valley
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Clones: 4,5,75,76,96,352, Chamisal
Oak treatment: 13 months in 40% new French oak.
Alcohol: 14.5%
Cases made: 2800
Release date: April 2009
Retail price: $24.

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ACCLAIM
90 points - "Wine Enthusiast"
Best of Show White” â€“ American Fine Wine Competition
90 points, Connoisseurs Guide

THE VINEYARD
Chamisal was the first vineyard planted in the Edna Valley in 1973 and now contains 80 acres planted to 5 varieties and 25 clonal selections. The nearby Pacific Ocean creates a long temperate growing season for exceptional hang time, which combines with the calcareous, clay-rich soil to produce fruit with exceptional intensity and complex flavors.

VINTAGE
A dry La NiÃ±a winter and spring led into a typically beautiful San Luis Obispo summer. Very stable weather patterns meant little in the way of strong winds, marine layer or heat waves during summer. However, October turned up the heat and we experienced two weeks of temperatures reaching 90Â°F and above, so we harvested rapidly over back-to-back nights to retain the balance of sugars and acids.

WINEMAKING
Our grapes were night-harvested by hand over 12 separate picks between October 16th and 22nd. Each pick was handsorted in the vineyards, then the whole clusters were quickly pressed to retain the bright fruit flavors. The juice was cold-settled and racked to French oak barrels for a long, cool fermentation using several yeasts. It underwent malolactic and was aged on the lees for eight months with frequent stirring then racked, blended and returned to barrel for another four months.

CLONAL SELECTION
Containing all seven Chardonnay clones we grow, this wine truly encompasses the terroir of the Chamisal vineyard. The Chamisal clone, part of the original vine stock first planted, and clones 76 and 96 particularly capture the unique flavors and structure of the estate in particular and the Edna Valley region in general.

TASTING NOTES
Our 2008 Chardonnay is amazingly plush, offering rich aromas of yellow peach, tangerine and Meyer lemon accented by a signature note of spicy wild fennel. The texture is luscious and coats the palate in a harmony of lemon, pineapple and butterscotch flavors. As the finish slowly fades, tantalizing hints of toasted brioche, crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e and candied citrus are revealed..