Winemaker Notes

A wine of purity, defined elegance and exuberance. Its delicate aromatics reveal itself slowly. The palate has a delicate bright richness that coats the mouth with concentrated flavors of citrus blossom, apricot, laced with fine sculpted, bright acidity seamlessly integrated with gentle French oak from carefully chosen Tonnelleries. Explosive flavors of ripe white pear, white peach, nectarine linger on the long prolific finish.

Climate and Harvest

2020 began with an early wet winter. Bud break arrived later than usual, setting a smaller than average crop with less clusters per vine. Spring brought rains and cool days. Summer was cooler than usual. This year proved to bring us greater challenges and to test our winegrowing acumen.

With warmer temperatures in August and early September, the vines accelerated in maturity and harvest dates. Yields were 25 percent lower on average. Overall bright round acids, moderate to low alcohols and intense aromatics in all estate clones. A vintage of overall exceptional quality prevailed.

Midnight hand harvesting of each clone over six days with small berries and concentrated fruit flavors and robust gentle tannins. Gentle cremant pressing after a 24-hour carbonic maceration. Individual clone fermenations in French oak over an eight-week period. Once topped, gentle sur lie aging with lees stirring to achieve a round mouth feel. Three-years bottle aging allowing the wines to integrate and become seamless.