When we planted our estate vineyard in 2012, we expected it to produce amazing Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay. Even still, most years we are blown away by individual barrels that far exceed our already intense expectations, and when that happens those barrels are set aside and bottled separately as part of our Reserve Series. Our 'Pali Vineyard Reserve' Chardonnay is crafted from the best barrels and the best blocks on our vineyard, including only the most intense and concentrated wines, blended together prior to bottling. It most elegantly expresses the nuanced flavors of the Chardonnay grape and the land they come from a gentle, southeast facing slope comprising mostly sandy soil. All grapes are hand harvested, hand sorted, and directly pressed. The juice was then transferred to individual barrels where a long, cool fermentation occurred. We stirred each barrel daily until bone-dry, and barrel-aged the wine in 100% new French oak barrels for 600 days.
When we planted our estate vineyard in 2012, we expected it to produce amazing Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay. Even still, most years we are blown away by individual barrels that far exceed our already intense expectations, and when that happens those barrels are set aside and bottled separately as part of our Reserve Series. Our 'Pali Vineyard Reserve' Chardonnay is crafted from the best barrels and the best blocks on our vineyard, including only the most intense and concentrated wines, blended together prior to bottling. It most elegantly expresses the nuanced flavors of the Chardonnay grape and the land they come from a gentle, southeast facing slope comprising mostly sandy soil. All grapes are hand harvested, hand sorted, and directly pressed. The juice was then transferred to individual barrels where a long, cool fermentation occurred. We stirred each barrel daily until bone-dry, and barrel-aged the wine in 100% new French oak barrels for 600 days.