2022 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay
2022 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay
Description
This wine is a classic example of Chardonnay from this amazing appellation. Aromas of green apples and white flowers prepare us for flavors lemon, pineapple and hints of vanilla. The gentle acidity keeps the wine light and refreshing. This wine would make a lovely pairing for summer fare like grilled shrimp or a fennel and apple salad.Vineyard Notes
The Sta. Rita Hills consistently produces world-class Chardonnay. The cool climate and marine soils are perfectly suited to the varietal. Our 2022 Chardonnay was sourced from the Donnachadh vineyard, which sits on a sheltered patch of sandy loam above the Santa Ynez river. The vineyard is farmed organically. This wine was sourced form blocks planted to the 76 and Wente clones.Production Notes
The 2022 harvest was tracking to be a little later than usual, but Labor Day weekend brought a significant heat bump which accelerated the pace. Berry size was smaller than average, which resulted in smaller yields across the appellation this year. Chardonnay from Donnachadh was harvested on September 14th. The grapes were picked while still low in sugar, coming in at 21.1 brix, resulting in a delightfully refreshing wine.Winemaker Notes
Chardonnay clusters for this wine were whole-bunch pressed then transferred to French oak barrels were the juice was fermented using native yeasts. The wine them completed full malo-lactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees for 10 months in 16% new French oak. It was then sterile filtered and bottled on August 3rd, 2023.| Vintage | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Wine Style | White Wine |
| Varietal | 100% Chardonnay |
| Appellation | Sta. Rita Hills |
| Acid | 5.1 g/l |
| PH | 3.68 |
| Alcohol % | 13.1 |
| Size | 750 ml |