2015 Oracle Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills AVA
This is just the third time we have made a single vineyard Chardonnay from Oracle Vineyard.  In the recent warm vintages, our 39-year-old own-rooted pre-phyloxera vines have performed exceptionally!  With a longer growing cycle then any of the vines planted on root-stock, we were able to pick this fruit in late September: 26th at 21.4 Brix with a ph 3.3 and a TA 7.6 g/l.). With intense pear and ripe apple fruit, complemented by aromas of apple blossom and hazelnut this is a chardonnay in a very traditional Burgundian style.  It was barrel fermented and completed a 100% malo-lactic fermentation before settling in for 24 months on the lees for a long and peaceful elevage.  This extra aging emphasizes the tremendous texture that our old Draper Selection vines possess. We feel very excited about this fantastic expression of Chardonnay from our vineyard! Only four barrels made the cut for this cuvée.  With one new and only one 1-year old barrel, the true nature of the fruit comes out.  This wine has the structure and acidity to age for a decade plus! It will certainly enrich people that age it with the care it deserves for the future. Total production: 94 cases & 5 cases of magnums.Finished wine: ph 3.53, T.A.: 6.90 g/l, alcohol:  13.1%.