Vintage Notes: 2023 began with a series of impressive rainstorms that saturated the soils and filled water reservoirs in January. Cold temperatures and a wet winter kept the vines in hibernation until late Spring, with budbreak only starting in late March. A cool Spring kept vines in bloom for longer and moderate Summer temperatures extended the growing season even more. This temperate growing season harkened back to pre-drought years and allowed the grapes to gradually ripen. The weather remained steadily temperate throughout the picking season which allowed grapes to develop flavor, and a push of heat early in October encouraged lingering grapes to ripen.

Chardonnay was harvested on August 25th and September 5th 2023; their earliest Chardonnay harvest yet given the heat spells that occurred starting mid-August.

Vineyard Notes: 70% Hicks Vineyard / 30% Kiser Vineyard. 95% comprised of Robert Young clones and 5% other clones.

The Hicks vineyard was planted in 1990 all to Robert Young clone on 110R rootstock. The vineyard is trained on a quadrilateral cordon and a California sprawl trellis system providing ideal dappled lighting on the grapes. The soil profile is Manzanita series consisting of very deep, well drained soils formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources. The soil texture is a gravely fine-loam.

Originally planted in the 1970's, the Sangiacomo family took over the vineyard in 1987. Kiser has 170 acres planted and is set on a rolling slope with Zamora and Huichica soils. There is a mix of different old Wente and Dijon clones planted.

Winemaking Notes: Whole cluster pressed and then cold-settled for 48 hours. Racked to stainless steel and fermented for 21 days. Aged on lees for 5 months prior to bottling. 100% Stainless steel aging, with partial malolactic fermentation.

Tasting Notes: D'Anjou Pear / Honeysuckle / Lemon Zest