J. Lohr October Night Chardonnay 2007

2007 was the coolest vintage of the last five years and included unseasonably cold and windy temperatures during fruit set, causing a phenomenon that the French call "millenderage" or "hens and chicks." The result is a cluster with normal size berries - "hens" - interspersed with tiny unfertilized (seedless) berries - "chicks."Although the Chardonnay clusters were very small and light-weight, the flavor intensity seemed to be enhanced in the diminished size. This intensified fruit character and retention of the grape's natural acidity allowed us to delay harvest until we reached a very ripe 25.7° Brix, creating a wine of tremendous fruit intensity and lush palate weight.