2016 Wayfarer Chardonnay
The Estate

Tasting Notes

In the glass, our 2016 Chardonnay displays a pale yellow hue. Its aromas are reminiscent of walking through a flower garden in spring—with redolent white flower, honeysuckle and orange blossom. On the palate the wine is lean and focused, with rich warmth and unifying acidity. Hints of minerality reveal themselves over a finish of incredible depth and length. Enjoy this wine in its youth or over the next 10 to 15 years while it continues to develop in the bottle.

Winemaking Notes

We handpicked each block and delivered firm, cool clusters to the winery before sunrise. After gentle pressing, the wine settled for 24 hours, followed by a carefully monitored racking to barrel. We transferred to 76% new French oak from cooperages including Damy, François Frères, and Remond. Native yeasts slowly guided alcoholic fermentation, with careful bâtonnage until malolactic fermentation completion. The wine was aged in barrel for 15 months, upon which it was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Vintage Notes

The 2016 vintage showcases elegance and purity of fruit, as the growing season shifted to a more normal timeframe after the previous three vintages had an early start. The growing season started off with above-normal temperatures that eased into more moderate June weather. The last days of August and first of September marked a minor heat spell, that brought the vines out of their slow, methodical ripening. When the temperatures increased, extra care was taken by the vineyard team and our multiple passes through the vineyard paid off—we harvested each block of our Wayfarer Vineyard at peak ripeness, for wines with vibrant fruit and balanced acidity.

Blocks Map

Clones

Berlenbach Old Wente, Hyde Old Wente, Mount Eden, Dijon 95