Release Date: Spring 1996

1994 has begun to shape up as a superb year for all of our estate wines. Low rainfall, a small crop, and classic September weather gave us all the precursors for greatness, yet in the world of artisan winemaking, one never knows exactly how great.

The Estate Chardonnay is aged nine to ten months in the barrel and during that time each individual barrel develops its own unique character. Consequently, it is only at bottling, when all of the barrels are married, that one finally gets a full snapshot of the completed wine. At that point it is up to the “drame of the bottle” to slowly manifest the true quality of the vintage.

My tasting notes: typical nose of pears, lemon and hazelnut.  Moderate in weight yet expansive in flavor with an intriguing mineral note in the finish. Expect improvement for one to three years and  a drinking plateau for many years thereafter.

Reminiscent of the hallmark 1984.