Appellation: Central Coast
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Clones: Wente, UCD 4
Oak treatment: None
Alcohol: 14.1%
Cases made: 3,200
Release date: April, 2009
Retail price: $18. Buy

$18. Buy

ACCLAIM
87 points - Connoisseurs' Guide; 87 points and one of the "Top White Wine Values" - Wine Spectator

THE VINEYARD
These grapes were sourced from two sustainably farmed vineyards on the Central Coast. One boasts gravelly, well-drained soils on a raised river terrace near the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, known for its lush Chardonnays. The other is only a few miles from our Chamisal vineyard and has similarly fresh, bright characteristics to the grapes grown there.

VINTAGE
2008 brought our second dry winter in a row, as well as some spring frosts, though only a few small pockets of the vineyards were affected. Overall, the vintage was cooler than normal but was pushed along by heat waves in May and October that allowed the grapes to achieve proper sugar levels and ripeness, while regular winds kept disease pressure low.

WINEMAKING
No oak is used in the winemaking process for this wine to showcase the essence of Central Coast Chardonnay. The selected grapes were hand-harvested and sorted, then quickly pressed in whole clusters. The juice was cold-stabilized and racked off the sediment, then tank-fermented at low temperatures to enable the formation of esters that emphasize the pure, tropical fruit flavors. 25% of the wine was put through maolactic fermentation to soften the acids, without adding buttery flavors.

CLONAL SELECTION
This wine plays the classic complexity and distinctive structure of the Wente clone, an historic California field selection, against the UCD 4. This newer clone is all about juicy, tropical fruit flavors and aromas, adding a prettiness and approachability to the wine.

TASTING NOTES
Intended as a pure expression of what the Chardonnay varietal represents, our 2008 Stainless Chardonnay has loads of fresh pineapple, lemon zest, golden apple and white peach fruit on the nose and palate. The acidity is bright and succulent, lengthening the finish of ripe, fresh flavors.