- Harvested by hand on September 26 (Wolff), October 1 (Oliver’s Vineyard) and October 4 (Bien Nacido Vineyards), 2008
- Average grape analysis – 24.5 °
Brix, 8.1 g/l T.A., 3.32 pH
- Vineyards: 54% Wolff Vineyard, 31% Oliver’s Vineyard, 15% Bien Nacido Vineyards
- Whole-cluster pressed, juice chilled and settled overnight
- Clarified juice racked to barrels, and inoculated for fermentation.
- 100% barrel fermented and 100% malolactic fermentation
- 25% new Sirugue, François Frères French oak barrels, and 75% used barrels
- Fined with organic milk and lightly filtered
- Wine analysis – 14.5% alcohol, 6.80 T.A., 3.38 pH
- Bottled on August 27, 2009
The Edna Valley is located on the south Central Coast of California a few miles southeast of the town of San Luis Obispo. The valley spans in an east-west orientation and is open to the Pacific Ocean to the west. The climate is strongly influenced by regularsummertime afternoon cool breezes from the ocean. The Edna Valley lies at 34 degrees latitude and therefore receives a lot of intense sunlight from a directly overhead sun.
This appellation Chardonnay has traditionally been a blend of two or three Edna Valley vineyards in varying amounts; this year Wolff Vineyards and Oliver’s Vineyard made up the majority of the blend. 2008 was indeed a year of extremes in the Central Coast – there was spring frost, a short period in June when temperatures
peaked above 100 °F, while a series of October freezes resulted in all-time lows in San Luis Obispo. This was the second drought year in a row, with brush fires throughout California. However, it was generally a cool growing season allowing for long hang time. Crop yields were slightly below average around 2.5 to 3.0 tons per acre.
This wine was grown at two sites in the Edna Valley, which are southwest facing and consist of clay loam soils mixed with small white calcareous stones. It is brilliant straw-yellow in color with a pronounced and aromatic nose – a mix of crusty baguette, mango, apple and vanilla. The mouth is full and rich, with buttery notes, firm acidity and lingering tropical flavors. This is a rich wine with moderate oak notes, Chardonnay fruit aromas and food pleasing acidity.

713 cases produce