Tasting Notes: Minerality and lemon zest give this high-elevation Chardonnay lift and poise. Notes of fresh rain (petrichor), and briny pear lead to excellent tension. A textural mouthfeel and flavorful finish make this a wonderful year-round wine to pair with a variety of dishes.
Vineyard: Manchester Ridge Vineyard - Mendocino Ridge AVA, Mendocino
Perched on a ridgetop at 2,000 ft. in elevation and just 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean sits the stunning Manchester Ridge Vineyard. Standing at the edge of the site, with the vineyard behind you and the sea ahead, you can actually hear the waves rolling in and out down at the beach in the town of Manchester. Despite the close proximity to the coast, there is enough sun to ripen the grapes because the vineyard lies above the fog line. Yielding small clusters of approximately 2 tons per acre, this dry-farmed vineyard produces grapes with intense flavor and excellent natural acidity.
Winemaking: Native yeast. Whole-cluster pressed. Fermented in neutral French oak puncheons. Aged in neutral French oak for 14 months. Unfined and unfiltered.
Vintage: 2021 was an excellent growing year with a mild spring and warm summer. The vintage overall showed lovely concentration and pronounced depth of flavor.
Technical Details:
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard: Manchester Ridge
Appellation: Mendocino Ridge
Clone: 76
pH: 3.33
TA: 7.7 g/L
Brix at harvest: 21.6
Alcohol: 13.4%
112 cases produced
