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 2009 release of the 2007 wines which include the Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay, the Napa Valley Old Vine Chardonnay and the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, the grand total of the three wines being under 700 total cases produced from this vintage.

2007 Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay - Quite possibly the best Hudson Vineyards we have produced to date.  A simply magical growing season allowed us to pick the fruit at moderate sugar levels with a little less acid and lower yields than the 2006 but with all of the fruit to back it up.  The wine is brimming with the tones of a classic Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay.  Grown in the cool and windy Carneros, where the old loam, clay and riverstone foot hills meet the bay.  Lifted essence of citrus, grilled stone fruit and mineral infused undertones.  A thrilling finish to my last full season at Hudson. 
336 cases produced

2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay The Old Vines - This wine was an opportunity for me to pursue one of my passions, older plantings of Chardonnay. The vineyards we sourced from for this wine were planted in 1968, 1972 and 1973. Not "old" by any stretch but certainly mature, and these plantings have reached an age where their sense of self if you will, the grace and beauty of their age, has allowed for the production of unbridled, confident, yet delicately nuanced fruit flavours with just the right spark of acid. Delicate white flowers, sliced pears poached in sweet butter, fresh crème, toasted hazelnuts. These vines have definitely hit their stride.
240 Cases Produced.

2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Sourced from an amazing hillside south-facing vineyard just outside of Occidental, on the Sonoma Coast and grown by good friend Ulysses Valdez. This remarkable site lies just where the fog-heavy coastal influence is in a daily dance with the sun of Sebastopol. A low yielding site, delicately tended to produce a meager two tons per acre. The wine was fermented with 10 percent whole clusters, just enough to lend a slight briar patch under-layer to the nose. Luscious red and black raspberries, crushed rose petals, cardimin, allspice and a very lengthy finish. We could not be happier with our inaugural Pinot Noir.
55 Cases Produced.