Tasting Notes

Release Date: Spring 2022

2019 marks our 34th harvest from this special vineyard. Once again, the yields were meager, mainly due to age. The owner Jean Pierre Wolff, is thankfully a big proponent of our love for Old Vines.

People often wonder why winemakers obsess about Old Vines, and it is because of the ratio of fruit to root mass. In young vines, the ratio is a lot of fruit and a small root structure; in old vines, it is reversed. The result is a tremendous increase in complexity and nuance in the wines. The only downside is the very small yields.

2019 was a typical October harvest in the Edna Valley. The weather conditions in this oceanside valley slow the ripening to a crawl and give ample hang time for the grapes. In tasting this vintage, what is noteworthy is the intriguing play of rose petal, honeysuckle, mint and toasty yeast in the aroma. On the palate, the flavors are transparent, echoing the nose and the finish is satisfying and long.

Completely barrel fermented and aged on the lees for nine months in our mountain cave, this vintage is drinking well now, and it will remain so for another four to five years.

Production

3,994

Tech Notes

Yield: 2 tons per acre

Harvest: October 1st - 21st

Numbers @ Harvest: 23.1° Brix, 3.43 pH, 7.8 grams acidity

Barrel Regimen: French Oak--2 to 5 years old, 100% Barrel Fermented; 100% Malolactic; 100% sur-lie

Bottling: June 2020

Alcohol: 14%

Reviews

93 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine  - November 2021

Chiseled flint, lemon blossom and lime balm aromas pop on the nose of this bottling, from vines planted in 1976. The palate is tightly woven, with pear flesh flavors spiked by grapefruit zest and tangerine peel. —M.K.

92 points Antonio Galloni presents Vinous - May 2022

The 2019 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard is the hidden gem in this range, as it so often is. Silky yet deep, with impeccable balance, the Wolff Chardonnay bristles with nuance. Lemon confit, almonds, chamomile, apricot and yellow flowers all grace this classy, understated Edna Valley Chardonnay. Don’t miss it. Drinking window:  2022 – 2027—A.G.

89 points Wine Spectator - November 2021

Rich and savory, with notes of dried thyme to the ripe white fruit and spice flavors. The finish has plenty of custardy accents. Drink now through 2024. — KM