Chalone Estate Chardonnay 2008

Capturing the distinctive characteristics of our unique terroir, our 2008 Estate Chardonnay holds fragrant aromas of ripe pear, green apple, hazelnut, vanilla and baking spice. Bright fruit flavors glide across a lithe and supple midpalate, balanced by toasty oak and a creamy texture. The vineyard's limestone soils leave a distinct footprint with a crunchy rock minerality that persists through the middle and holds the finish. The fine balance of vibrant acids with weightier oak influences makes an excellent match to rich, creamy foods such as soft cheeses and chicken dishes with heavier sauces.

Located among the ragged outcroppings of the Gavilan Mountains, perched approximately 1,700 feet above the Salinas Valley, our estate vineyard is extreme wine country. At this elevation, the grapes experience wide diurnal temperature swings, which can vary by as much as 45 degrees in one day. Limited rainfall and the shallow limestone soils give little assistance to the vines, resulting in beneficial stress that produces low yields of intense, flavorful grapes. This unique terroir and microclimate impart a distinctive mineral character and compelling richness to our Estate Chardonnay.