2018 Elias Chardonnay 750ml

Vineyards: Our Elias Chardonnay is made from our estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley. The 2018  Elias is made from Chardonnay grown on our Slusser and Home Ranches. These vines, now 30 years old, are coolly ablaze in red and yellow lichens and producing wines of profound depth.

Vintage 2018: Moderate temperatures (aside from a brief heat spike in June), adequate rainfall, and no frost pressure set the stage for even maturation of early season cultivars. The temperate late summer and early fall weather resulted in an elongated harvest. October 1st rain provided drama, soaking the tight clustered Chardonnay which required a pass to remove botrytis the day before picking. The 2018 Elias Chardonnay was harvested at an average 24.2 o  Brix, TA 0.75 and pH of 3.28 on October 6, and 10.

Winemaking: The 2018 Elias Chardonnay was hand harvested at dawn and brought to the crush pad by tractor. The grapes were carefully hand sorted and whole cluster pressed into stainless steel tanks to settle. After racking off the heavy grape lees, the Chardonnay was 100% barrel fermented. In the spring of 2019, the best barrels were chosen for Elias and given extended time on lees. The wine was sur lie aged for 16 months, with monthly battonage. The 2018 Elias was fermented and aged in 46% new, French and Hungarian oak barrels from Trust, Nadalie and Remond.

Tasting Notes: Cream cup yellow, the 2018 Elias Chardonnay is lemon-bar perfection (lemon curd, butter shortbread, it’s all there.) Beneath this, is crisp apple, green rooibos, vanilla bean, and yes, lemon blossoms. Flavors of spring apricot, poached pear and orange zest polenta cake are rounded out with a licorice root silkiness and a green-tea-cracked-sugar finish. (Tasted  3-20-20).

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Vineyard Location: Block 2 Home Ranch Russian River Valley Appellation

Age of Vines: 28 years

Alcohol: 14.8%

pH: 3.36

Titratable Acidity: 0.68 g/100 mL

Residual Sugar: 0.20%

Avg. Brix at Harvest :24.2o

Harvest Date: October 6 and 10, 2018

Fermentation: 100% Barrel Fermented

Malolactic Fermentation: 100%

Length/Type of Aging: 16 months in 60 gal oak barrels on lees.

Oak Types: 46% New French and Hungarian oak from Trust, Nadalie and Remond cooperages.

Bottling Date: March 24, 2020

Number of Cases: 305

 Vegan