2018 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 11 months in 31% new French oak, the wine is racked and bottled.
The 2018 Chardonnay opens with aromas of stargazer lily, lemon curd, brioche and a stony note in the background. On the palate, one finds Asian pear and toast notes, enveloped in a lush mid-palate and a bracing framework of acidity—the mountain’s assurance that the 2018 Legacy Chardonnay will age beautifully for a decade or longer.