1998 Chardonnay - Porter-Bass Vineyard
Tasting Notes
The cool-climate breeding of the vineyard is evident to the eye and palate when regarding the wine. Color is pale yellow with a hint of green tinge. Aromas reflect traditional Burgundian techniques interplaying with site as a touch of animale adds complexity to the mineral and hint of citrus blossom. The structure of the wine is firm, with a good acid backbone supporting the rich sur lies textural and tactile qualities. We feel the wine is ready to drink upon release and will reward the patient oenophile with careful cellar ageing for five years or longer.
Facts
- Clones: 2/3 Old Wente; 1/3 Rued selection. Clones picked & aged separately.
- Yeast: Old Wente 100% native; Rued conducted with cultured Burgundy isolate (CY3079)
- Yeast / ML: 100% native malolactic, sur lies in barrel primarily for 9 months with periodic battonage; selected Rued barrels were pulled off lees after 4 months and no battonage
- Cooperage: 50% new oak: Seguin Moreau Le Montrachet; D&J, François Freres Allier medium+ toast
- Harvest: Mid-late October, picked at an average of 23° Brix over a 10-day period with high acid (10 g/L ave.) and low pH (3.22 ave.) which is indicative of the cool maritime climate
- Yield: 0.9 ton/acre
- Vineyard location: Mays Canyon sadule, 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean & halfway between Forestville and Guerneville off the Russian River file.
- Vineyard terroir: Steep, shale, clay-loam soils of ancient marine sediment. Exposure is E-W ridge environs which are bathed in sunlight all day while the Pacific Coast and Russian River Valley fogs lie below. Mays Canyon sadule is the meeting place and dividing line between these two fog influences. Result is an extremely long, very cool but sunlight-filled growing season.
- Plantings: 10 acres (Chardonnay) planted 1984-6 to AxR rootstock with x-arm trellising. Steep hillsides dictate a moderate vine spacing of 6 x 10.
Final bottling technical information
- pH: 3.48
- TA: 6.45 g/L
- 13.8% alcohol
- Residual sugar: 0.73 g/L (bone-dry)
Bottled unfined and unfiltered in September 1999; 305 cases produced<.