World renowned. Washington grown.

2007 H3 Chardonnay

90 points — Wine Spectator

Tasting Notes
"Aromatics of slight mineral, apple, pear and caramelized sugar open this elegant, medium-bodied Chardonnay.  The balanced palate of pineapple and coconut leads to a seductive, creamy vanilla finish."
— Ray Einberger, Winemaker

Growing Season

• The mild winter allowed the vines to remain in good shape throughout the cold months. 
• In May, one to two weeks before bloom, temperatures spiked to 100 degrees for about a week.  
• The heat spike led to a smaller canopy which allowed for more light penetration, and contributed to good flavor development in the fruit. The hot temperatures also contributed to smaller berries with concentrated flavors. 
• During fruit set the weather conditions were favorable and the summer saw mild to average temperatures. 
• Veraison started 10 days ahead of average. 
• At the beginning of harvest, temperatures were moderate, and September weather was ideal for harvest. 

Vineyards 

• The Horse Heaven Hills vineyards are located east of the Cascade Mountain range. Up to 14,000 feet high, the mountains effectively block eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean. 
• The terrain consists of south-facing slopes that provide excellent sun exposure for grape ripening, and good air drainage which protects the vineyards during the winter months.  
• Well-drained, sandy soils have low fertility and low water-holding capacity, allowing precise control of vine growth patterns.  
• Strong wind patterns, which are unique to Horse Heaven Hills, reduce canopy size and density, create better sun exposure, and contribute to even ripening by moderating temperature extremes.  

Vinification 

• Whole berry Chardonnay from select vineyards was pressed, the juice was held at 50 degrees in stainless steel tanks for two days. 
• 40% of the grapes were barrel fermented in new American and French oak, and 30% in older oak barrels to create complexity and maintain the fruit integrity.  
• 30% of the juice was fermented in stainless steel to retain the minerality and fruit-forward elegance of the fruit, characterizes unique to the Horse Heaven Hills region. 
• Various yeasts were used at fermentation; the wines were then inoculated for malolactic fermentation. 
• All barrels were hand-stirred weekly for six to nine months.  
• Blending occurred pre-bottling.             

Technical Specifications

Vineyards: Horse Heaven Hills  
Harvest Date: September 21, 2007 
Blend: 100% Chardonnay 
Fermentation: 16-20 days 
Alcohol: 13.8% 
Total acidity: 0.54 g/mL 
pH: 3.45

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