In past vintages, we experimented with fermenting Chardonnay on its skins, though the resulting wines were always blended with other barrels of non-skin contact Chardonnay to add minerality and texture in the final blend. For years, we quietly entertained the idea of bottling a small amount of this skin-contact Chardonnay on its own—and this year, we finally made it happen. Fermented and aged in neutral oak barrels for 10 months, this wine reveals delicate notes of white peach, pear, and green apple, with a slightly chalky texture and intense minerality. Made from 100% destemmed grapes and fermented on the skins for 12 days, it was pressed off before fully dry, completing fermentation in the tank. Fermented with native yeast and minimal sulfite additions, this unfined and unfiltered Chardonnay offers a beautifully expressive glimpse into a different side of the variety.
In past vintages, we experimented with fermenting Chardonnay on its skins, though the resulting wines were always blended with other barrels of non-skin contact Chardonnay to add minerality and texture in the final blend. For years, we quietly entertained the idea of bottling a small amount of this skin-contact Chardonnay on its own—and this year, we finally made it happen. Fermented and aged in neutral oak barrels for 10 months, this wine reveals delicate notes of white peach, pear, and green apple, with a slightly chalky texture and intense minerality. Made from 100% destemmed grapes and fermented on the skins for 12 days, it was pressed off before fully dry, completing fermentation in the tank. Fermented with native yeast and minimal sulfite additions, this unfined and unfiltered Chardonnay offers a beautifully expressive glimpse into a different side of the variety.