1999 Reserve Chardonnay

Tasting Notes
“Classically varietal with apple and banana aromas layered with coconut and nutmeg. The wine is immediately rich and viscous on the palate with ample vanilla, toast and apple flavors trailing into a supple finish.” -Doug Gore, Winemaker

Growing Season

Mild winter temperatures preceded a typical mid-March bud break.
An atypical cool, cloudy weather pattern held from mid-April through July resulting in lighter fruit set and lower grape cluster weights.
Mid-August temperatures warmed and a pattern of warm, cloud-free days continued through October. The disparity between daytime and nighttime temperatures during this time-as much as 40º F-delayed harvest by a couple of weeks and allowed additional time for flavors to mature.

Vineyards

Reserve program grapes come from 20-year-old vineyards with low crop levels.
Vineyards are seated in proximity to the Columbia River which provides a moderating effect on temperatures in winter and summer.
Vines are planted north to south on south and southeast facing slopes.
Soils are sandy loams to sandy silt loams.
Average rainfall totals 6” to 8” annually with 90% of the rainfall occurring during dormancy. Vineyards are 100% drip irrigation.

Winemaking

Individual grape lots were harvested during cool, pre-dawn hours to ensure grape flavors are ideally balanced.
The juice was pressed and immediately separated from the skins to preserve the delicate fruit flavors and color.
All of the juice fermented in new Bugundian oak barrels. After 14 days, malolactic fermentation commenced, and then the wine aged sur lie in the barrel for 14 months. During this time the wine was hand-stirred twice weekly to integrate the flavors.
After aging, each barrel was sampled and just 10% of the finished wine selected for the Reserve program.

Technical Data

Total acidity: 0.57 g/100ml
pH: 3.85
Alcohol: 14.0%

Food Pairings
Creamy lobster bisque, grilled salmon, assorted cheeses

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World renowned. Washington grown.

1999 Reserve Chardonnay