Estate Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

Description :

This wine is 100% from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate and is a combination of clones 4, 76, and 95, along with Mount Eden, Hanzell, Hudson, Wente and Melville selections. The chardonnay vines were planted in 1997, predominantly on the west side of the estate where we have varying degrees of sand. Because the west side receives the brunt of brutally cold ocean-winds and grows in the nutrient deficient, well-drained soils, Chad feels this chardonnay always captures the vibrancy, minerality, and concentrated flavors that are hallmarks of this appellation. The densely planted vineyard is harvested by hand then gently whole-cluster pressed, cold settled overnight and transferred by gravity to barrel for fermentation in neutral French oak barrels (15+ years old), with zero malolactic and sur lie aging without any lees disturbance. Yields were 3.1 lbs/vine (2.8 tons/acre).