2018 Chalone Vineyard Estate Chardonnay, Chalone AVA
Winemaker Notes
Our 2018 Estate Chardonnay is crisp and refreshing with a beautiful golden hue. It opens up with nuances
of stone fruit, wet rock and a hint of oak. Our Burgundian style Chardonnay boasts a unique minerality
and exceptional complexity derived from mature vineyards coupled with ancient limestone that runs
through the Chalone AVA.
Food Pairing Notes
Pair this Chardonnay with creamy lobster mac and cheese topped with
crunchy, golden bread crumbs.
Composition
100% Chardonnay
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Chalone AVA
Harvest Date
August 27 – September 10, 2018
Acid
6.6 g/L
pH
3.23
Aging
8 months in French oak barrels, 12% new
Alcohol %
14.1
Production Notes
2018 was highlighted by its moderate growing season and average rainfall, resulting in grapes with extra
hangtime and wonderfully ripe flavors. Yields were slightly up due to the cooperative weather during the
flowering stage. We harvested the fruit for this wine from August 27 – September 10, 2018.
Vineyard Notes
We sourced this Chardonnay from our oldest, highest-quality vineyards, with half of the grapes coming
from our estate vineyards planted in 1971, 1972 and 1973. An additional portion came from an outstanding
1985 planting, which Richard Boer grafted using budwood taken from vines planted in 1946 on the estate.
These MacWood heritage selections yield tiny berries that contribute intensity and structure to the wine.
The age of our vines gives our Chardonnay wines their intense flavors, quality and aging potential.
