Cline Chardonnay Sonoma

VINEYARDS This Chardonnay is from our Estate Sonoma Coast vineyard the Lazy C located in a region known as The Petaluma Gap. Cool Pacific fog rolls in most days during the growing season making this vineyard prized for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The cool climate temperatures are perfect for slowly ripening Chardonnay while maintaining acidity. FERMENTATION & AGING The grapes for our 2015 Estate Chardonnay were hand-harvested in the early morning and cool evenings to capture and preserve the delicate fruit flavors. At the winery the grapes were gently destemmed with minimal tannin extraction and then carefully pressed. After chilling to 50º and settling for two days the juice was racked to stainless steel for cool temperature fermentation. The wine was then stirred on the lees for several months to add richness and complexity before racking to French oak for six months. The delicate toasty vanilla oak character is a result of 40% new oak. A beautiful ba