2015 Chardonnay
This heritage-clone Chardonnay is sourced from the Upper Barn and Cougar Ridge vineyards at the rugged upper reaches of the Alexander Mountain Estate, between 1,600 and 1,800 feet above sea level. A variation of the Hyde-Wente clone of Chardonnay, the Upper Barn clone thrives at these high elevations and produces exceptional mineral aromatics. Hand-picked and hand-sorted, the fruit is gently pressed and allowed to ferment naturally in barrel with wild yeasts from the vineyard. The lees are then stirred monthly during malolactic fermentation for superior aromatic and textural finesse. After 12 months in 37% new French oak, the wine is racked and bottled.
The 2015 Legacy Chardonnay shines gold in the glass, with luminous aromas of brioche, chamomile, Asian pear, and gardenia. The silken palate shows a fresh minerality with bright acid and delicate toast aromas alongside a lush mid-palate and a bracing Meyer lemon framework. Fresh, pure, and refined, this wine will continue to evolve in the cellar for many years.
95 POINTS Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2018