North America | Napa | Matthaisson | Chardonnay Linda Vista Vineyard

Chardonnay Linda Vista Vineyard

VARIETALS
Chardonnay

NOTES

VINEYARD: Linda Vista Vineyard. The Linda Vista Vineyard is just across the creek behind Steve and Jill's house. The West Oak Knoll area where they live is one of the classic Chardonnay spots in Napa—going back to the 60s, when the climate here was considered too cool for full-bodied reds. Chardonnay from just behind their house won the famous Paris tasting in 1976. The 25-year old vines were originally planted by Beringer in 1989, and the Matthiassons are proud to take their turn caring for them as the vineyard develops maturity. Certified Organic.

VINIFICATION: The fruit is harvested several different times during the ripening period: The earlier harvests contribute acidity and minerality, and the later harvests contribute flesh and richness. The earliest pick is incredibly zingy, while the latest pick is nutty and honeyed. Everything was blended together before bottling. Grapes are whole-cluster pressed and settled in tank for 24 hours, then fermented and aged in seasoned French oak barrels, with only native yeast. There was no battonage (lees stirring) or racking. Two-fifths of the barrels were allowed to go through malolactic fermentation.