2023 Vineyard Francesca Chardonnay
2023 Vineyard Francesca Chardonnay
New release! Crisp, bright and refreshing, our first Chardonnay from Vineyard Francesca.
Description
Crisp, bright and refreshing, our first Chardonnay from Vineyard Francesca captures the ocean influence on this westerly site. Fresh lemon and honeydew melon lift the aromatic profile while fresh white flowers, oyster shell and salinity ground it in its marine soils. Tangy acidity defines the palate, providing structure to the flavors of toasted brioche, bright citrus fruits and minerality. This is a perfect pairing to a Thanksgiving turkey or linguine in clam sauce.
Vineyard Notes
Vineyard Francesca is truly growing wine on the edge. One of the most westerly vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, the west-facing vines slope gently towards the Pacific Ocean. The vines here are fully exposed to the fog and cooling breezes of the region. High-density planting and shale loam soils keep yields very low, resulting in small clusters with intense flavors. Ken’s Chardonnay block here is planted to the Wente clone.
Production Notes
Sta. Rita Hills experienced an unusually cold growing season in 2023. Heavy winter rains delayed budbreak significantly, and cool summer weather led to slow ripening and a later harvest. The harvest started in late September and continued well into October. The long hang time encouraged excellent flavor development, complexity and concentration. Grapes for this wine were picked on October 4th. We picked them at a low brix (22.2) to keep the alcohol low and the wine refreshing.
Winemaker Notes
Chardonnay clusters for this wine were whole-bunch pressed then transferred to French oak barrels where the fermentation was started using native yeasts. The wine then completed full malo-lactic fermentation. The wine was aged on its lees for 10 months in neutral French oak, and bottled on August 7th, 2024.
| Vintage |
2023 |
| Wine Style |
White Wine |
| Varietal |
100% Chardonnay |
| Appellation |
Sta. Rita Hills |
| Acid |
6.6 g/l |
| PH |
3.43 |
| Alcohol % |
13.7 |
| Size |
750 ml |
