
2017 Foley Estates T Anchor Ranch Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills
Winemaker Notes
The 2017 T Anchor Ranch Chardonnay has prominent aromas of peach
and guava with hints of floral jasmine. Its bright acidity balances the subtle
oak and pairs well with the notes of lemon curd, lime and tangerine zest for
a long finish.
Composition
99% Chardonnay, 1% Grüner Veltliner
Wine Specs
Vintage
2017
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Santa Rita Hills
Acid
6.5 g/L
pH
3.51
Aging
18 monhts; 40% new French oak
Alcohol %
15
Production Notes
The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed and transferred to tank
following harvest. After a day of cold-settling, the juice was inoculated
and racked to 40% new French oak barrels. It then underwent regular
stirring of the lees for added texture and complexity. All lots were kept
separate throughout vinification and aging to ensure character,
distinctiveness and quality. After 18 months in barrel under cool cellar
conditions, the wine was bottled.
Vineyard Notes
There’s only one way to describe the Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard: serene.
Located in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County, these
stunning hillsides feature vines that climb from 500 to 1,000 feet above sea
level. The soils are marine-based and the weather is consistently cool
thanks to moist ocean breezes that sweep the property daily. The vineyard
is farmed with the painstaking care and attention usually associated with
much smaller properties. In fact, this vineyard was originally conceived as a
series of individual micro-vineyards delineated by soil, exposure, elevation,
grade, rootstock and clone. The 2017 vintage was one for the books. From start to finish Mother
Nature kept us on our toes, delivering anything and everything except a
typical Sta. Rita Hills weather pattern. The season began with an early
bud break followed by a few sporadic frost events. Overall, seasonal
temperatures were moderate to cool rendering uniform berry set. As the
season started winding down the disease pressure intensified but an
unexpected blast of extreme heat near Labor Day finally bumped sugars
high enough to cue harvest. As temps cooled again, harvest slowed to a
steady pace. Four weeks into picking we experienced ten days of high
humidity conditions (residual from a tropical storm to the south)
followed by an intense fire season. The final crop yield was moderate
and required notable tending.