2021 Wayfarer Chardonnay
The Estate

The 2021 Chardonnay showcases a brilliant play of structure, intensity and elegance.  Aromas of almond, jasmine, ground ginger and lemon meringue pie flow from the glass. On the palate, citrus, lemongrass and toasted brioche take center stage, accompanied by tropical notes and hints of stone fruit.  The boisterous acidity, voluminous texture and stunning minerality of this wine lead into a flinty, persistent finish.  The 2021s will age gracefully for many years.

Each block was picked by hand at night, and firm, cool clusters were delivered to the winery before sunrise.  We hand-sorted the clusters then transferred them into a bladder press.  After gentle pressing, the juice settled for 24 hours before we carefully racked it to French oak barrels, 64% new.  Native yeast slowly guided alcoholic fermentation, with measured batonnage until malolactic fermentation was complete. The wine aged sur lie for 15 months and was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2021 was a dry, warm, even vintage, giving us wines with great intensity and harmony.  Though we experienced record-low rainfall of 20 inches, a long way from our 65-inch average, it was plenty to fill our pond and irrigate our vines throughout the season.  Budbreak occurred on the early side due to an unusually dry, warm winter, and this early trend continued throughout the season.  Spring and summer remained dry and warm, though temperatures never spiked.  This consistency, along with bountiful sunlight, allowed for even ripening across the vineyard.  It was a smooth growing season and an ideal harvest, with all fruit picked at just the right moment and coming into the winery in a steady stream.  The wines are remarkably dense and complex, with lots of structure, energy and delicate aromatics.