2023 La Storia Chardonnay

The grapes for the 2023 La Storia Chardonnay were sourced from two new for us old and established Russian River vineyards. The crop yields were very low this year with small berries and clusters providing great concentration of aromas and flavors. Each vineyard was hand-picked early in the morning at the lowest temperature possible in small ½ t bins. We pressed the fruit directly without destemming to preserve more of the delicate aromas.  The two vineyard lots were harvested at different times and barrel fermented separately using three different types of yeast each with partial malolactic fermentation to preserve the fruit expression of the grapes and to keep more of the natural acidity and freshness. The lees on the bottom of the barrels was stirred twice per month for increased mouthfeel and viscosity. Prior to bottling the two lots were blended. Our 2023 Chardonnay is typical for the variety and the style with aromas of tropical fruits, ripe apples, peaches, and apricots. Further aeration reveals deeper aromas of toast with a touch of caramel and ripe Mayer lemons meringue and a bit of minerality. The mouth feel is generous and rich, with tamed acidity and long and round finish.