Tech Notes
Yield: 3.5 tons per acre
Harvest: September 14th-28th
Numbers @ Harvest: 23.2° Brix, 3.30 pH, 8.7 grams acidity
Barrel Regimen: French Burgundy-30% new; aged 10 months in barrel, sur-lie
Bottling: July 2013
Alcohol: 13.5%
Tasting Notes
Release Date: Spring 2015
Although a drought year, 2012 shaped up to be a great season across all the varieties we grow. A late bud-break led to a long uneventful summer and fall with no significant heat to worry about. A slow, leisurely harvest in late September insured complete ripeness at moderate sugar levels.
This Chardonnay was entirely barrel-fermented and aged on the yeast sediments for added complexity for ten months. All fermentations were not inoculated as is our usual practice. Our motto is “nothing added, nothing taken away.”
The grapes for this vintage come from Mount Eden fruit (60%) and Domaine Eden fruit (40%), reflecting a classic expression of the Santa Cruz Mountains. A pale yellow color, tightly-wound acidity, and moderate ripeness with a dazzling finish, this wine is what I have been aiming for since 2004, when we began selecting barrels of declassified estate chardonnay for our Domaine Eden program. Subtle lemon, hazelnut, herb and earth aromas give way to flavors of citrus, toasty oak and mouthwatering acidity. For those who love Chardonnays which display restraint and finesse, this is for you. The finish is, of course, long and nuanced, giving an expectation for a long evolution in the bottle.
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