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1998 Reserve Chardonnay, Carneros

Vintage

1998 was, for the most part, a very late and very wet growing season, culminating in a gloriously warm autumn. Significant culling was undertaken to preserve desired clusters. The combination of smaller crops and higher acids generally produced grapes with wonderful balance and fruit intensity. We selected the richest and most complex lots of the 1998 vintage for our Reserve program.

Vinification

The lots with the finest track record were culled and re-selected again at the winery. These were 100% cold (50° Fahrenheit) barrel-fermented for about five weeks and aged for eight months in French oak barrels where they were stirred every two weeks for the first six months. All underwent malolactic fermentation; the finest barrels were then selected, blended and bottled in August 1998 and released in March of 2000. Alcohol 13.5%, total acidity .56, pH 3.73, residual sugar .15. 2,500 cases produced.

Tasting Notes

Rich and full in the mouth, this Reserve Chardonnay shows lovely passion fruit and carmeled apple aromas in the nose. Multi layered flavors of spiced baked apple, tropical nuance and spiced oak. This wine has tremendous richness and length and should age well for several years.