Our Chardonnay is picked at night, when the fruit is cool, in an effort to retain its most delicate essence. The whole clusters are then gently pressed, and the juice transferred to French Oak barrels, no more than 30% of them new so as not to overpower the fruit. No acid, yeast, or malolactic bacteria are added, allowing the wine to ferment with the assistance of native yeasts; only those yeast found in the vineyard, and the resident populations of the winery. As a result, the Chardonnays ferment on their own schedule, finishing primary fermentation usually by late winter, and "waking up" and completing their malolactic fermentation late the following spring.

The Pinot Noir is fermented in open top fermenters, with approximately 10% whole clusters lining the bottom of the vessel. It is gently punched down during fermentation, so as not to break the skins of the whole clusters, which are treaded lightly by female foot as the wine finishes primary fermentation. The treading releases a whole new profile of fruit to the wine, bringing back a bouquet of esters that speak of the fruit as it tasted on the vine. The wine is gently drained to French oak barrels, 40% of them new, to complete malolactic fermentation where it is aged for approximately 16 months. The Pinot Noir like its sister Chardonnays has no additions of yeast, bacteria or acid.

All of the wines are aged on their lees, and then are racked and blended only once before bottling, in order to bring together the individual character of each of the barrels.

There is no set schedule for this winemaking process, no formula or timeline. The wine and its phases of evolution are driven by the composition of the fruit, as it comes from the vineyard. The winemaking itself is more an endeavor of watching than anything else, watching in awe, as the natural processes translate the fruit into wine. It is a very old method of making wine, and follows the greatest of traditions in the craft.

Please contact us in regards to the availability of our Spring 2010 release of the 2008 wines which include our Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Napa Valley The Old Vines Chardonnay and our Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay, the grand total of the four wines being under 600 total cases produced from this vintage.

2008 Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay - The light crop of 2008, coupled with warmer weather during harvest created a wine of great intensity, that retained its bright fruit characters due to the quality of site and care in the field. The 2008 reminds me of our 2005 vintage from Hudson. Regal, rich, with a seamless spine of acid that supports, rather than dominates the wines' silky fruit overtones. Golden stonefruit flesh and hints of yellow citrus, layered over an underlying minerallity that grounds the wine.

195 Cases Produced.

2008 Napa Valley The Old Vines - There were very low yields, and rapid ripening weather during harvest, yet these vines remained unfazed and subsequently produced a wine that is as lifted, delicate and ethereal as the 2007 vintage was. A testament to the grace that comes from the age of these vines. Distinct notes of fragile white spring flowers and freshly sliced gravenstein apples, with hinted tones of kiwi, all firmly threaded by a subtle ribbon of acid.

172 Cases Produced

2008 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Sourced from a hillside, south facing vineyard just outside of Occidental and picked just prior to the heat of harvest, the 2008 is more nuanced than our 2007, more feminine in its nature. Floral essences of crushed rose and violet petals, with fresh picked red and black raspberries throughout. Infused with a wild, bramble tone that wraps up with an impeccably balanced, silken finish. A resounding follow-up to our 2007.

86 Cases Produced..

2008 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay - Heralding from the sand driven soils and oceanic influenced hills of western Sonoma County, this wine further marks our march towards the north coast, and the possibilities that lie ahead. Sourced from two sites along the ridge of sandy hilltops outside Sebastopol. Remarkable notes of citrus bloom and thin shaved pear, laced with a taught, vibrant acidity and a liquid stone like earthen chord that beckons further exploration.

123 Cases Produced.