Sebastopol Vineyard Chardonnay 1998

The Vineyard The vineyard for the 1998 Sebastopol Vineyards Chardonnay surrounds the winery on Highway 116 near the town of Sebastopol. Known as the Vine Hill Ridge Vineyard, this is a 20 year old vineyard planted with the Robert Young Clone of Chardonnay, and bears the subappellation of Green Valley. The spacing is 8 X 11, and is trellised in a Geneva Double Curtain. The soil is prime Gold Ridge soil, a well drained, sandy loam that bears a yellow tint. The Vintage The cool growing season of 1998 created a late harvest, in fact, almost a month later than normal. After an unusually cool spring, flowering was normal. Rains in June, however, damaged the set of the clusters. Although the rain did not affect the quality, the number of grapes per cluster was drastically reduced, creating a smaller crop than normal. A warm summer followed, but rain struck again in September. The warm wind that followed combined with the excellent drainage of the soil eased worries about the grapes. The temperatures rose again afterward, and harvest was completed by the middle of October. Vinification Techniques Sebastopol Vineyards 1998 Chardonnay was whole cluster pressed, inoculated with three different yeast's and then barrel fermented. Malolactic fermentation commenced immediately after primary fermentation. The wine was aged exclusively in French oak, one third of it new, and the lees were stirred twice a month. The wine spent ten months in the barrel before it was bottled at the end of July, 1999. Tasting Notes Yellow straw-like in color, the 1998 Chardonnay is a beautifully balanced wine that offers a nose of apple and cinnamon with floral, peach and apricot showing through. Silky on the palate, vanilla and caramel round out the mouth feel, leading into a long finish with crisp acidity. 950 cases were produced.