Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Clones: 76, 96, 352, Chamisal
Oak treatment 14 months in 60% new French oak
Alcohol: 14.5%
Cases made: 500
Release date: April, 2009
Retail price: $38. Buy

$38. Buy

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
Global warming certainly makes winemaking more interesting…. The cold wet spring of 2006 gave a late bud-break, followed by a long cool growing season, leading to a very late harvest. Low natural yields coupled with slow, consistent ripening produced fruit of great intensity, brilliant fruit and exceptional balance.

WINEMAKING
This wine was crafted from mature, high-density plantings of predominantly Dijon clones. We employed aggressive shoot thinning, leaf pulling and fruit thinning. The vintage was organically farmed, handling 100% whole clusters and cold settling for a 24 hour period. Using CY 3079, Montrachet and Native yeast , we fermented sur lies and lees stirred for 14 months in French oak (60% new). Our 2006 vintage was unfined.

CLONAL SELECTION
This vintage is a blend of Chamisal as well as Dijon 75, 76 and 352 clones.

TASTING NOTES
Whereas our Estate chardonnay bottling is an harmonic orchestral symphony, the 2006 Califa offers a focused profile of Chamisal spiced fruit. Imagine a parfait of freshly baked coconut macaroons, grilled pineapple and creamy cherimoya custard. To be enjoyed now or in the next few years, this wine is seamless.

ACCOLADES/PRESS
92 points – Connoisseurs’ Guide: "This year’s Califa Chardonnay meets all expectations in terms of the richness, power and sheer sense of scale that have come to define the Domaine Alfred style, and, as with the winery’s best efforts, it exhibits good balance despite being a very big wine. While long on ripeness and rich oak, it is driven first and always by its deep, appley fruit, and its generous, wide-open style invites early drinking."

90 points – The Wine Enthusiast: "Racy and pure, this Chard shows the bright lime, lemon and kiwi flavors of Edna Valley Chards, with a sleek undergirding of steely minerals. It’s crisp and dry, although smoky oak lends caramel and vanilla notes."

89 points – Wine Spectator: "Supple and balanced, showing a rich, creamy texture and layers of fig, melon and pear, with a touch of apricot. Full-bodied, this fans out nicely on the palate. Drink now through 2011…"