The cool mid-valley location of our Split Rail Vineyard has produced a stunning debut wine with lovely honeysuckle, orange blossom, white peach, custard and toasted coconut aromatics. On the palate beautiful stone fruit and grapefruit flavors are underscored by excellent acidity and a sophisticated streak of terroir-inspired minerality—at once, elegant and refreshing.
A dry winter and spring in the Anderson Valley limited canopy growth and yields. Throughout the summer, the weather was near ideal with moderate daytime temperatures. At the same time, the valley’s proximity to the Pacific ensured a regular cooling influence, resulting in diurnal temperature swings of almost 40 degrees Fahrenheit. September brought a sustained heat spell with temperatures reaching the low 100s, giving the grapes a final push toward perfect ripeness. While this made for a more compact harvest, the proximity of our winery allowed us to get all our fruit into the press in pristine condition within an hour of picking.
Harvest Dates: September 8 – October 22, 2009
Average Sugar at Harvest: 24.4° Brix
1 Vineyard Harvested
VARIETAL CONTENT
100% Chardonnay
COOPERAGE
90% Barrel Fermentation
100% French Oak
35% New Oak, 65% Second Vintage
Barrel Aging: 10 Months
TECHNICAL DATA
75% Malolactic
Alcohol: 14.1%
0.56 g/100 ml titratable acidity
pH: 3.51
Bottled: July 2010
Release Date: March 2011
94 Points
It’s a very elegant, drily austere wine, yet rich in grilled pineapple and buttered toast flavors. More>
89 Points
This crisp and carefully crafted effort is on the right track. More>